June 3, 2025 The Condor

GLTC Round 2 Recap – Road Atlanta 2025

Grit and grind—by reason or by force.

Strong Finish in Tough Conditions: Condor Speed Shop
at Gridlife Round 2

May 9–10, 2025 | Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

Condor Speed Shop’s Carlos Mendez and Thomas Lathrop showed resilience, skill, and
strategy at Gridlife Round 2 at Road Atlanta, earning strong finishes despite unpredictable and challenging weather conditions. With Friday's dry morning sessions providing a solid baseline, the real test came Saturday, when steady rain soaked the track, testing both drivers' ability to adapt and push their BMW E90s to their limits.

Here’s a breakdown of how the weekend unfolded for Team Condor:

Friday: Dry and Fast – Qualifying and Race 1

The weekend kicked off with ideal conditions, allowing drivers to focus on qualifying and their first race.

Practice & Qualifying:
- Carlos Mendez put down a 1:38.97 lap, qualifying in 20th.
- Thomas Lathrop wasn't far behind, setting a time of 1:39.55 to qualify 21st.
Race 1:
With the track dry and grip levels high, both drivers found their rhythm in the morning race..

- Carlos showed strong racecraft, advancing to 16th by the finish.
- Thomas held steady, crossing the line in 21st.

Saturday: Rain Sets the Stage – Races 2, 3, and 4

As the rain arrived early on Saturday, conditions quickly became treacherous. The wet track provided an entirely different challenge for the drivers, but Condor Speed Shop's e90s excel in the rain, allowing them to make the most of the conditions.

Race 2:
The rain began early in the morning, turning the track into a slippery mess just before the race started at 8:55 AM. Despite the challenging conditions, both Condor drivers thrived, taking full advantage of their setup and tire choices.
- Carlos Mendez made an impressive charge, finishing 7th.
- Thomas Lathrop also showed great improvement, crossing the line in 13th.

Race 3:
As the rain continued to pour, many competitors struggled in the 10:55 AM race with low
visibility and even less grip.
- Carlos, unfortunately, spun in the difficult conditions, falling back to 12th place.
- Thomas showed steady progress, finishing 11th.

Race 4:
By the final race, the weather had still not let up, but the Condor team was prepared.
- Carlos capped the weekend with a solid 8th-place finish.
- Thomas pushed through to finish 14th, showing his growth and consistency
  throughout the day.

Final Standings: A Weekend of Strong Results

After four grueling races, Carlos Mendez finished the weekend with a 10th overall position—an impressive result considering the challenging conditions. Thomas Lathrop, who showed continual improvement throughout the weekend, ended up in 15th overall.

Adapting to the Elements: Condor’s Strategy Pays Off

While many drivers struggled with the relentless rain, Team Condor was ready. The team made simple setup adjustments to their cars for the wet conditions, ensuring the drivers had the best possible grip and handling. Their focus on maximizing grip and visibility helped both drivers perform at their best, even when others were sidelined.

The team’s ability to adjust quickly and stay consistent in such an unforgiving environment speaks to their experience and teamwork.

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Team

Condor Speed Shop continues to be grateful for the support of our incredible sponsors: ROWE USA, HRE Wheels, Motorsport Hardware, and its dedicated crew members: Christina, Curtis, and Matt. Our success at Road Atlanta would not have been possible without this great team behind us.

Looking Ahead

With Gridlife Round 2 now behind us, the team is looking forward to the next event at
Gingerman Raceway in Michigan. With a strong finish at Road Atlanta and a growing sense of confidence, we’re excited for the challenges that lie ahead. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push for top-tier results in the GLTC series!

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