Third overall. Second in Bronze Cup. A fight for the lead. In just their second race weekend together, Matt Forbush and Jules Caranta put the No. 18 Duqueine D09 on the podium at Road America.
The speed had already shown itself at COTA. Jules set the fastest P3 race lap on the D09’s debut with Forbush Performance, but sixth overall left work to do. Matt’s account of that weekend was candid about the compressed preparation and the challenge of learning a new car. Road America was the next opportunity to turn that speed into a stronger result.
On August 16, the two-hour IMSA Airbnb Endurance Challenge finale gave the team that opportunity. Matt and Jules completed 53 laps, taking the No. 18 into a late fight for the overall podium.
A lap at the front
Two cautions kept the race unsettled. At the second restart, with 44 minutes remaining, the field still had its second mandatory pit stop to complete. When the four cars ahead of Jules turned into pit lane, the No. 18 stayed out for another lap.
For that lap, Jules led the race. The extra time on track offered a chance to gain ground before making the stop. He rejoined second, with the podium places still being decided around him.
Patrick Liddy and Garett Grist moved ahead as the order settled, putting the No. 18 back in fourth. Jules stayed in the fight. After Grist passed Liddy for second, Jules recovered third and brought the Duqueine home on the overall podium.
A result to build on
Third overall and second in Bronze Cup marked a clear step forward for Matt, Jules and the team. The D09’s pace had produced a fastest lap in Texas. Now it had carried the No. 18 through two hours at Road America and into the top three.
There was still ground to make up to the winner. But this weekend gave Forbush Performance something substantial to take into the next race: a podium earned through the final pit sequence and the fight that followed. The next target was the top step.
Race coverage: IMSA’s Road America report and season finale preview.
