The 2025 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama class championships are beginning to take shape following the third event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) this past weekend in Austin.
With 90+ entries across Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America – the Circuit of the Americas paddock was packed with Porsche power.
After two races under the hot Texas sun in the North American series, the 992 GT3 Cup field – 30 deep in both instances – showcased brewing rivalries and set up excitement for the remaining four rounds to come.
Kleck, Blind solidify front-runner status with double victories
Between the 992 GT3 Cup veteran versus the rookie, the latter prevailed, but not with ease. Cole Kleck, along with his Topp Racing team, added another two victories to his total in 2025, leaving COTA with five wins so far this season as the series approaches its halfway point at the next event.
Kleck and Alan Metni chased each other around the Texas circuit throughout the weekend, with Metni leading at various points or otherwise running right against Kleck’s bumper. However, the Texas native was unable to cross the finish line first, but tallied two runner-up results on the weekend in the Pro-Am class.
Therese Lahlouh had one of her most successful weekends in Sprint Challenge that ended with a third-place finish in Race 2. She was within striking distance of a podium in Race 1 as well, but was overtaken shortly after the green flag by fellow Pro-Am competitor, Tony Malito, for the spot.
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters category, Scott Blind was once again victorious – for the third and fourth times this season – but was challenged by Kayden Kelly in both efforts. Blind only secured the lead from Kelly with 15 minutes remaining in Race 1 and was fortunate to start first in Race 2 and maintain the position.
Kelly, meanwhile, left COTA with two second-place finishes after a victory in the most recent round at Sonoma Raceway, while John Gilliland and David Williams split the final podium trophies between the two races at COTA.
Hantson beats the heat for Cayman weekend sweep
Jens Hantson not only beat the heat at COTA, but also withstood the pressure from the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport field. The class championship leader did both en route to a double victory with the Speedsport Tuning team.
In a misty Race 1, Hantson passed polesitter and Masters driver Alain Scalzo for the overall lead in the opening minutes to allow a gap between himself and the remaining Pro-Am class field. Loni Unser made the same maneuver past Scalzo and set her sights on the win, but pulled off track in the closing minutes with an issue that led to a race-ending yellow flag.
Anna Cecchi finished second as a result – her best of the season – with Erika Hoffman in third.
Unser returned to the track with a vengeance in Race 2 and loomed large in Hantson’s mirror as the minutes wound down. A passing opportunity didn’t present itself to her, but Unser finished runner-up by just .270 seconds.
Anna Cecchi finished the weekend with a double podium by rounding out Race 2 in third.
In the Masters class, Scalzo not only started first overall, but he maintained first-in-class for the Race 1 win over Will Peluchiwski and Tom Kopczynski.
Daniel Ammann was the class polesitter for Race 2, and Peluchiwski used the inside of Turn 12 to move past for the lead and eventual win. It was Peluchiwski’s first win of the season after forgoing the rounds at Sonoma Raceway in April, and only being able to participate in the first race at Sebring International Raceway in March.
Class points leader, Scalzo, finished second, while polesitter Ammann held on for third place.
The next round of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama is set for VIRginia International Raceway in nearly two months’ time on July 11 – 13. Race replays throughout the season are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.
992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium
Pro-Am
- #210 Cole Kleck
- #298 Alan Metni
- #203 Tony Malito
Masters
- #245 Scott Blind
- #208 Kayden Kelly
- #208 John Gilliland
992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium
Pro-Am
- #211 Cole Kleck
- #298 Alan Metni
- #242 Therese Lahlouh
Masters
- #245 Scott Blind
- #208 Kayden Kelly
- #237 David Williams
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium
Pro-Am
- #12 Jens Hantson
- #27 Anna Cecchi
- #21 Erika Hoffmann
Masters
- #26 Alain Scalzo
- #62 William Peluchiwski
- #52 Tom Kopczynski
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium
Pro-Am
- #12 Jens Hantson
- #4 Loni Unser
- #27 Anna Cecchi
Masters
- #62 William Peluchiwski
- #26 Alain Scalzo
- #91 Daniel Ammann
Full results from all sessions can be found here.
All photos can be found here.
