Sonoma, CA | It was another GREAT weekend for Black Sheep Racing (BSR), this time at the famed Sonoma Raceway in Napa, California. With Laura Ely and Kenton King piloting BSR-prepared machines, it was a podium-filled weekend for both drivers.
After a test day on Thursday, Saturday opened with qualifying that set the grid for race one later that afternoon. Performing well, King was able to secure the third fastest lap in the Pro/Am class while Ely earned the pole position in the Am class and fourth overall. With qualifying in the books, it was time to go racing.
Race one saw tight battles as drivers got their elbows out to fight for positions on track and chase the elusive race wins and podium results. Throughout the 35-minute affair, it was a hard-fought battle up front with King leading Ely on track. Lapped traffic would play a major part in the final outcome as a small bobble and loss of momentum by Kenton allowed Laura Ely to sneak by for the second position overall, but the win in the class. Kenton finished second in class and third overall for a great start to the weekend for Black Sheep Racing.
“We gained a lot of points on Saturday and Laura moved herself up to second in the points after the outstanding pole qualification achievement,” explained Chris Stiffler, BSR Business Manager. “Additionally, our woman car chief, Devin Hoffman got her first win for Laura Ely in Porsche Sprint Challenge. An amazing feat for our program.”
Sunday’s race saw Kenton King start from second on the grid while Laura Ely was on the outside of row three in the sixth position. It was another battle up front and while King ran second the majority of the race, he eventually finished race two in third while Laura Ely stood on the podium in her class as well.
“Laura and Kenton did a great job driving, we achieved our goals, earned a couple of podium finishes, gained on the overall points tally, and neither car suffered any damage. It was a beautiful weekend and now we look forward to preparing the cars for next month’s race at the Utah Motorsports Campus.”
Throughout the weekend, Black Sheep Racing debuted a new partnership with Vezer Family Vineyard, located close by in Fairfield, California.
“We invited the PCA Diablo Chapter, and they showed up in force with several members attending, some for their first-ever race event,” Stiffler added. “Thank You to Randy Hembrey and all the USAC staff for a great event!”
Black Sheep Racing held a special prize giveaway for those who attended the event.
Stiffler continued, “USAC was nice enough to grant us a special giveaway in a surprise to all the Diablo PCA chapter members by giving away a pace car ride.”
Sonoma, CA | In the second Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama event of the season, Robert Todd sailed away for a weekend sweep while the rest of the field fought behind him.
Sonoma Raceway and the iconic wine country backdrop hosted the pair of rounds, one week after wrapping up its annual NASCAR Cup Series weekend, with the first race on Saturday afternoon and the second on a cooler, Sunday morning.
Following his two victories, Todd said, “I am so thankful for this past weekend, and I feel so blessed to be given the opportunity to represent such a wonderful team. BR Racing did an amazing job prepping the car and anticipating the conditions of the track after a weekend’s worth of rubber from NASCAR proved to be a challenge for us all. There was nothing better than having my wife and kids there with me during the weekend and having the best Father’s Day I can imagine.
“This really propels us forward for the championship and we are thrilled to be carrying this momentum into the next event at Utah for myself and our customers.”
While Todd secured the both the WeatherTech Pole Position Award and the 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am win, the battle for the remaining class podium positions was unpredictable. Kayden Kelly held the runner-up spot for the majority of the race, but faced pressure throughout from Kenton King in the No. 274 Porsche.
Turn 9 was a hotbed of action particularly on Saturday, and was where King ultimately executed a move on Kelly to gain second place in the final 10 minutes. In the same turn on the next lap, Kelly’s control of his No. 288 Porsche seemed all but lost as he nearly spun, eventually doing so a few minutes later but managing to come home seventh in class.
Taking third in Pro/Am was James Sofronas, who faced a battle of his own after starting from the rear of the field following a post-qualifying technical infraction. In his first USA West event of the year, Sofronas determinedly moved through the pack in the No. 204 Porsche, gaining six class positions to round out the podium.
Kenton King wasn’t the only driver from Black Sheep Racing to reap rewards in Race 1, as his teammate Laura Ely claimed the 992 GT3 Cup Am class victory. The two enjoyed a battle amongst themselves for second and third overall on Saturday, with Ely outmaneuvering King during a pass on a lapped car on the final lap.
Peter Ludwig and Dmitri Novikov in the Nos. 211 and 229 Porsches, respectively, completed the Am class podium.
After a weekend sweep at Spring Mountain in April, Casey Dennis picked up where he left off to score the 991 GT3 Cup class victory over James Li and Jim Walsh.
While Todd’s dominance carried over to Sunday for a Race 2 victory, Sofronas’ fight for redemption continued as well – starting sixth in class and finishing a position higher than Saturday in second. King completed his effort for a double podium by finishing third.
The Am class victory was up for grabs in Race 2, with Novikov starting first ahead of Ludwig and Ely. An early spin dropped Novikov from the lead and behind his two competitors, while Ely had a turnaround of her own in the Carousel. Ludwig stayed consistent to score the victory and Novikov recovered for second, while Ely followed up her Race 1 win with third place, holding off a late surge from Kyle Washington in the No. 234 Porsche.
Casey Dennis completed back-to-back weekend sweeps with a 991 win on Sunday over Li and Walsh. Additionally, Michael Gaulke represented USA West Cayman GT4 Clubsport this weekend, earning points towards his Am class championship campaign with Competition Motorsports in the No. 99 Porsche.
Official results: Race 1 and Race 2.
In less than a month’s time, PSCUW is back on track for its third weekend of 2023 at Utah Motorsports Campus, which is scheduled for July 14 – 16. However, Porsche Sprint Challenge next heads to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to continue the North American series calendar. Only the 992 GT3 Cup classes will compete at Mid-Ohio on June 30 – July 2, before the GT3 Cup and Cayman GT4 Clubsport classes reunite at Road America in August.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live on FloSports, in addition to the series’ YouTube channel. More information can also be found at www.porschesprint.com and on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
June 9, 2023 – 2022 USAC Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West 991 class Champions, Black Sheep Racing (BSR), and Team Principal and driver Laura Ely are excited to announce a new partnership that has been formed with The Vezer Family Vineyard in Fairfield, California. Set to commence at the Sonoma event weekend June 16-18, The Vezer Family Vineyard partnership will continue throughout the 2023 season.
The Vezer Family Vineyard is a Suisun Valley Vineyard, owned and operated by the Vezer family. The vineyard hosts activities year-round including weddings, barrel tours, live music events, and their signature wine club allows guests to explore different styles and flavors of wine each month at a special pricing level.
The partnership will include in-person wine tasting at two 2023 USAC Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West events with Black Sheep Racing. The first will be held June 17 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, and the second September 7-8 at Weather Tech Raceway Laguna Seca in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in Monterey, California. The winery has won several awards for its brands and was seeking an avenue to showcase their family-made wines.
“The relationship with the Vezer Family goes back several years with Black Sheep,” explained Chris Stiffler, Black Sheep Racings Business Development Manager. “We have always wanted to partner with the vineyard as they are local to our base of operations. With our participation in the Porsche Sprint Challenge series, an opportunity arose that seemed viable at Sonoma and Laguna Seca. I just felt it was a good fit and Pam at Vezer and I put together a fun, exciting event.”
The Vezer Family Vineyard is no stranger to auto racing. Founder, Frank Vezer is a long-time racing enthusiast and competitor in the F4 class. Stiffler, who was last year’s championship winning Car Chief for Ely, in his new role this year as Business Development Manager continued, “We’d like to thank Randy Hambrey and the whole USAC racing staff for their support in this sponsorship arrangement. It’s our first corporate sponsorship and working with a great series like Porsche Sprint Challenge and USAC racing, it is a great learning experience for us. We can use the relationship building skills for our plans in 2024.”
Black Sheep Racing will debut their new partnership when they arrive at Sonoma June 16 for Round 2 of the 2023 USAC Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West Championship at Sonoma next week.
Alton, VA | It was a tale of two races for the leaders in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, with VIRginia International Raceway hosting the third doubleheader of the season for the Porsche GT3 Cup and Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport classes.
While Saturday’s conditions brought the heat and overnight rain dropped the temperatures on Sunday, all four races featured action with lasting effects.
Porsche GT3 Cup: Zachary Vanier continued his dominance in the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am class, winning his fifth and sixth consecutive races in the No. 206 and maintaining his undefeated status in 2023. The MDK Motorsports driver scored the WeatherTech Pole Position Award to start first in both races and ran nearly uncontested throughout the weekend.
The closest competition Vanier faced was from fellow Porsche Junior driver, Aidan Kenny. In Race 1, Kenny was overtaken by Madeline Stewart for the runner-up position, but he later pressured the New Zealander into a mistake to reclaim second place. In Race 2, Kenny valiantly fought door-to-door with Vanier at the start, but eventually gave way to the Canadian’s pace.
“Thirty-five minutes plus one lap doesn’t seem like much, but it can add up very quickly,” said Vanier, who extended his lead in both the Pro/Am and Porsche Junior championships. “I’m making sure to put in all the prep required to maximize each and every weekend and give everybody who’s helping me the results they deserve. A huge credit to the MDK Motorsports team and all their efforts – our program this weekend was absolutely phenomenal. Testing on Thursday was very beneficial for us to find out where we made gains and carrying it through the weekend.”
Connor Horstmann in the No. 214 Porsche finished third in both races to complete the Pro/Am podium. In the Am class, Christian Hodneland was poised for a weekend sweep in the No. 232 Porsche. However, after claiming the Race 1 win and seemingly in control of Race 2, Hodneland found himself off course during the final minute, elevating Steve Dunn to first place after a runner-up finish the day prior. David Williams, who finished third in Race 1, moved into second, with Jody Miller completing Sunday’s podium.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Ashley Freiberg mimicked co-driver Vanier’s success with a weekend sweep of her own in MDK Motorsports’ No. 122 Porsche. Tim Kezman and Scott Zdanis finished second and third, respectively, in both races.
Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport:
On the first turn of the first lap, Saturday’s Cayman GT4 Clubsport race saw a move that could have ramifications for the rest of the season. Nicholas Maloy started second behind Chloe Chambers and at the start, boldly dove to the inside of the polesitter. However, late braking by Maloy sent his No. 4 Porsche hard into the side of Chambers, running both cars off track and seeing the rest of the field pass by.
While Chambers was able to return to the race – ultimately finishing seventh in class – Maloy was forced to retire his Porsche for the remainder of the weekend. Maloy’s championship efforts, both in the Cayman Pro/Am class and in Porsche Junior competition, faltered as a result and is now fifth and third, respectively, in both programs. Before Race 2, Chambers’ team worked to repair her No. 70 Porsche, which paid dividends as she soared from the drop of the green flag to rebound for the victory on Sunday.
“I knew I was quick off the start,” said Chambers, who was recently announced as part of the Porsche Deluxe Female Driver Development Program. “I knew that from (the last event at) Barber, so I was just trying to get a gap from the start. Through the middle of the race, I was just listening to what they were saying on the radio, saying what the gap is, and then managing how quick I’m going from there.”
Making a guest appearance at his home track this weekend was Florian Eyme, who found himself in the right place at the right time on Saturday to steal the victory after the leaders’ incident. He took home an additional podium on Sunday in the No. 11 Porsche by finishing third.
Walking away with a solid points weekend and double runner-up finish at VIR was Paul Bocuse. The Zotz Racing driver now leads both the Pro/Am championship by 24 points over Michael Clark as well as the Porsche Junior championship by 29 points over Riley Pegram.
In the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Am class, Alain Scalzo breezed to a Race 1 victory on Saturday and was prepared to do the same on Sunday before a solo, off-track excursion in his No. 26 Porsche led to a late retirement. Jason Golan – leader of the Am class championship – inherited the top spot and eventual win, with Tom Kerr completing the class podium in both races.
The next Porsche Sprint Challenge North America event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will feature just the GT3 Cup class as part of the INDYCAR Series weekend on June 30 – July 2. However, the series’ USA West division picks up for its second doubleheader of 2023 two weeks prior at Sonoma Raceway on June 16 – 18.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live on FloSports, in addition to the series’ YouTube channel. More information can also be found at www.porschesprint.com and on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Speedway, IN – Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) and Deluxe Corporation have expanded the Porsche Deluxe Female Driver Development Program with two more drivers, Chloe Chambers and Madeline Stewart. Chambers represents the Cayman class, which uses the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, while Stewart will carry the banner for the class utilizing the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 992 race car. Chambers and Stewart join Sabré Cook as the 2023 recipients of the Porsche Deluxe Female Driver Development Program scholarship.
Stewart, a native of New Zealand, is racing in the 992 Pro/Am class of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. Stewart drives the No. 282 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car for JDX Racing and has graduated from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia championship. Chambers, who lives in Indiana, debuted in the Porsche Sprint Challenge this year driving the No. 70 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport for TPC Racing. She grew to fame when she drove a Porsche 718 Spyder to a Guinness World RecordsTM achievement for the Fastest Vehicle Slalom. She still holds the record three years later. In addition to her role in the Porsche Female Driver Development Program, Chambers is also a Porsche Junior Program North America participant in the Cayman class.
Included in the scholarship, both drivers will receive a full season entry in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. Additionally, they each receive one set of Yokohama race tires each event weekend as well as direct access to PMNA competition advisor and Porsche Junior Program North America driving coach Patrick Long.
Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America. “Being able to add the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama to our Female Driver Development Program has been an objective since we conceived the idea. It is natural to add this to each level of our Motorsport Pyramid. Through our partnership with Deluxe, Yokohama and USAC, we have been able to do it even sooner than we thought would be possible. Madeline and Chloe are a perfect addition to the program. They are both excellent drivers and very well received in the paddock. With Madeline, Chloe and Sabré together, I cannot think of three better drivers to represent the program.”
Chloe Chambers, driver, No. 70 TPC Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. “Being part of the Female Driver Development Program is special. Having all of the support from Porsche and Porsche Motorsport is great. It is something that I am very appreciative of and I will try and represent the brand well. I have worked with Porsche Cars North America in the past with a Guinness World Record title achievement, but it is super cool now to be involved on the Motorsport side. I want to race in Le Mans. I would love to be doing it with Porsche. I grew up watching Porsches race and that is how I got into racing. It would be a goal to close out my career as a Porsche factory driver.”
Madeline Stewart, driver, No. 282 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. “I feel very privileged to be part of the Porsche Female Driver Development Program. Coming over to race in the USA this year was a huge step, but I am grateful for the support I have already received. Programs like this really help to further my career in motorsport and it is fantastic to see Porsche Motorsport North America, Yokohama and USAC working so hard to
Motorsport News Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama May 24, 2023 support females climbing through the Porsche Pyramid. We have had a great first two rounds of the Championship, so I am looking forward to continuing on this year before making the step to Carrera Cup next year.”
Tracey Engelhardt, President, Check Solutions and Chief of Operations at Deluxe “At Deluxe, we are honored to sponsor the Porsche Deluxe Female Driver Development Program and support the advancement of women in motorsports. We believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial in every industry, and motorsports is no exception. By providing opportunities for female drivers like Madeline Stewart, Chloe Chambers and Sabré Cook, we hope to help level the playing field and create a more equitable future for all aspiring racers. We are excited to continue our partnership with Porsche and be part of this important initiative.”
Randy Hembrey, Director of Road Racing, United States Auto Club. “Porsche Sprint Challenge North America is often the first step for a driver to compete in a semi- professional program. This championship is intentionally positioned on the Porsche one-make ladder as a development platform. The Porsche Female Driver Development Program is just one of the tools made available to us by Porsche to further identify talent and support the career growth of these talented women. We’re excited to have both Madeline and Chloe as a part of our championship and have been immediately impressed by their on-track skills and determination to succeed. We look forward to watching them continue to progress in this program and through their driving careers in the future.”
Porsche and Deluxe Corporation expand Female Driver Development Program in 2023
Porsche Motorsport North America and Deluxe Corporation have expanded the Female Driver Development Program within the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America. The announcement of Chloe Chambers and Madeline Stewart brings the support package into the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, the one-make championship which prepares talent for a move up to the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America.
Speedway, IN | Growing on the success of its Porsche Junior Program North America last year, Porsche Motorsport North America has announced a 14-driver lineup for 2023.These drivers will compete across the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America (992 class) and the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America (GT4 class) series.
The Porsche Junior Program North America is an intricate part of the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid on the continent, a level-by-level process of driver development from karting to the highest levels of endurance sports car racing.All Porsche Junior Drivers will be invited to attend the official Porsche Junior Workshop to be conducted at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta on July 20–21.The workshop provides an opportunity for the junior drivers across all three categories to receive a range of education, training and support to take the next step in their career.Additionally, all Porsche Junior Program North America drivers will have the right to use the official designation, including the use of the official program logo, in promoting themselves.
In addition to the education and training, the recipient in both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge receive a range of financial support throughout the year with the junior champion from each Sprint Challenge program receiving free entry in the 2024 season.The Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup Junior Champion will be awarded a nomination to attend the Porsche Global Junior Shootout at the end of the year.
There they will compete against the best junior drivers from around the world to be crowned the official Porsche Junior.The Porsche Junior receives funding to compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in the 2024 season. If a driver is unsuccessful in the global shootout, they still have the opportunity to compete in GT3 racing in North America as part of the Porsche Selected Driver program.
“A strong development program is key to the overall health of our sport and to the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid,” said Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO Volker Holzmeyer.
“Since my arrival, we have put a great deal of attention on creating a pathway for drivers to move up to through the ranks with an emphasis on talent.
“This isn’t always easily done because the sport is so cost-sensitive. However, we believe, working with our partners, our teams, with IMSA and with USAC, we are building a system in North America that can see talent rise to the top.
“These additions are a substantial step in that direction.”
Porsche Junior Program North America Drivers
Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America:
Elias De La Torre IV – JDX Racing
Riley Dickinson – Kellymoss
Jimmy Llibre – MDK Motorsports
Will Martin – JDX Racing
Thomas Nepveu – McElrea Racing
Thomas Sargent – McElrea Racing
Sean Varwig – Kellymoss
Travis Wiley – Topp Racing
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama:
Cayman Class
Paul Bocuse – Zotz Racing
Chloe Chambers – TPC Racing
Nick Maloy – Tatum Racing
Riley Pegram – MDK Motorsports
992 Class
Aidan Kenny – ACI Motorsports
Zach Vanier – MDK Motorsports
Enhancements to Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama 992 Class
Drivers in the 992 class – which exclusively uses the type 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car – will have the opportunity to compete for a full-season, paid entry to the 2024 Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America.
Enhancements for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Cayman Class
Among participants in the all-Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport category, the winning Junior driver of each round will receive a free set of Yokohama tires and a free entry into the next round of the championship.
The overall champion will receive a free season-long entry into the next level, the 992 class, for the following season.
Carson, California: Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) in coordination with the United States Auto Club (USAC), will introduce the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama. The 500 hp normally aspirated Porsche competition machine will make its one-make debut with the Porsche development series beginning with the 2024 race season. Based on the road-going Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS introduced in late 2021, the race-going version has been exclusive to open competition since debuting with a victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Daytona International Speedway in January of 2022.
As with its road going sibling, the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is equipped with a 4.0 liter six- cylinder boxer engine. This high-revving powerplant is taken directly from the 911 GT3 Cup race car and develops 500 hp in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport – 75 hp more than the previous GT4 Clubsport model. Fitted as standard is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK).
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport joins the previous generation 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport that has been exclusive to the “Cayman” class since the 2021 debut of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.
The homologated 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is track-ready from the factory and can be used in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America without further modifications. Interested customers should contact Porsche Motorsport North America at [email protected] by June 10, 2023, to be considered for 2024 allocation.
Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America. “We are very pleased to bring the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama next season. The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is special in that it can be used, with few changes, from amateur to professional racing. Having ABS as well as stability and traction controls available makes it drivable at every stage of race driver development. This makes it the perfect fit for the entrance level of Porsche one-make racing in North America. We are excited to see a grid full of GT4 RS Clubsports next season.”
Kevin Miller, President and CEO, United States Auto Club (USAC) “USAC has been working closely with Porsche Motorsport North America for quite some time to bring the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport into both the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West programs beginning in 2024. We’re excited to see them on track in the only true one-make platform available for these machines in North America. The demand for this car has been made clear to us by our competitors and we’re delighted to be able to get them on track in this market.”
Porsche Sprint Challenge to introduce 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to Sprint Challenge one-make
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport has been made eligible for participation in the Cayman class of both the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama and the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama beginning in 2024. The Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America racing series adds an additional opportunity for owners of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to race the mid-engine race car. It is the first one- make series option for the 500 hp machine.
Competing at the IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama weekend, the stars of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama put on a display of skills and pace in Rounds 3 and 4 of the season.
While guest drivers Riley Dickinson and Michael McCarthy – representing Kellymoss and the local Racing for Children’s charity – took a break from their Porsche Carrera Cup North America duties and finished top-two overall in both rounds, the season-long battles in each class continued on.
In the No. 206 Porsche, Zachary Vanier took home both 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am victories to sweep back-to-back weekends in PSCNA.
The Canadian’s closest competition came from the No. 230 of Pavel Lefterov, who finished runner-up in Race 1 and challenged Vanier in Race 2, but was penalized for taking the lead during a full-course yellow and issued a drive-through penalty.
Aidan Kenny went on to complete Saturday’s Pro/Am podium in third and on Sunday, made a crucial pass in his No. 222 Porsche on Madeline Stewart with less than 15 minutes remaining to finish second. Stewart finished third on Sunday to conclude her second PSCNA weekend after also finishing fourth on Saturday in the No. 282 Porsche.
“It was really great racing against Pavel this weekend,” said Vanier after Sunday’s win. “He’s a very fierce competitor, but he’s also very respectful. In terms of our race today, the pace was really good and I think we made a good step with the program that we brought forward. You could see the gap that we had towards the Kelly-Moss cars was less significant than it was yesterday.
“A huge thank you to the entire MDK Motorsports team. They’re putting together an amazing program for us this season. It’s another great weekend for the championship and that’s what we’re fully focused on. It’s still early, but we’re just going to keep chipping away.”
Additionally with his double victory, Vanier topped Aidan Kenny in the weekend’s competition for the 992 GT3 Cup Porsche Juniors championship, earning 100 points to Kenny’s 94.In contrast to 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am, the Am category offered a mixed bag of results between races. David Williams claimed the win on Saturday with his No. 237 Porsche ahead of Mark Boden and Christian Hodneland. But just as they traded wins at Sebring International Raceway in March, Hodneland got his turn atop the podium, winning on Sunday with Williams and Boden following behind.
Rounding out Porsche GT3 Cup this weekend was Charlie Peter, who took both wins in the No. 166 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. In addition to his quick pace – even finishing third amongst season-long contenders on Sunday – Peter’s strategy was assisted by non-class cars positioned between him and his closest competitor, Ashley Freiberg, who finished second ahead of John McInnes in Race 1 and Tim Kezman in Race 2.
RESULTS: Race 1/Race 2
The star of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport field at Barber was Chloe Chambers, making her Sprint Challenge debut in the No. 70 Porsche. After scoring the WeatherTech Pole Position Award on Saturday morning, Chambers led flag-to-flag in both races this weekend, but faced consistent pressure from fellow Pro/Am competitors Nikolas Maloy and Paul Bocuse.
In Race 1, the trio broke away from the field and Bocuse capitalized on a small error by Maloy to move into second place. While he made a handful of runs at Chambers, Bocuse’s No. 71 Porsche never caught up to the rookie to challenge for the win, and Maloy finished third.
In Race 2, however, it was Maloy’s turn after starting alongside Chambers on the front row. The two had a door-to-door, first-lap showdown, but Chambers persevered to keep Maloy at bay and keep her victory. Bocuse rounded out the podium in third.
“It is such a great feeling to have swept the weekend on my debut in Porsche Sprint Challenge,” said Chambers, who also won the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Juniors Championship round at Barber, with Bocuse elevated to the season-long leader by one point over Maloy.
“I was definitely under lots of pressure in that first race but I knew that if I kept putting in consistent, fast laps that I would be able to hold them off and that’s what I did. “We made some tweaks to the car overnight and they made big improvements to Sunday’s race. The TPC Racing team really put it all together for that last race and listened to my feedback for improvement. I can’t go without thanking Monoflo International for the opportunity and Porsche Motorsport for the support. “Thanks to all my other sponsors and supporters, and all the fans that I spoke to over the weekend. I can’t wait to be back racing again at VIR in a month!”
In the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Am class, William Peluchiwski and Jason Golan traded victories at Barber between their respective Nos. 62 and 80 Porsches. Alain Scalzo finished runner-up to Peluchiwski on Saturday with Golan third, while Shaun McKaigue rebounded from a troubled Race 1 to finish second on the podium Sunday to Golan, with Peluchiwski third.
After back-to-back race weekends for its North America and USA West championships, Porsche Sprint Challenge will take a hiatus before the next rounds of the PSCNA schedule on June 2–4.
Rounds 5 and 6 will take place at Virginia International Raceway, while Sonoma Raceway will host the second weekend of PSCUW on June 16–18.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live on FloSports, in addition to the series’ YouTube channel. More information can also be found at www.porschesprint.com and on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch allowed no room for error while hosting the first Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama weekend of the year.
In a thrilling pair of races featuring four classes – Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am, 992 GT3 Cup Am, 991, GT3 Cup and Cayman GT4 Clubsport Am – the 2.76-mile configuration challenged all drivers, and consequences of placing a wheel off-track meant a significant loss of track position, plus a cloud of dust from the surrounding Nevada desert terrain.
The battle for the overall lead was a focal point throughout the weekend, featuring impressive driving from both Robert Todd in the No. 252 BR Racing Porsche and Will Wattanawongkiri, the team owner of WRTeknica and driver of the No. 277 Porsche. As the WeatherTech Pole Position Award Winner, Wattanawongkiri led the field to green, but was overtaken by Todd early in the race. Despite losing the lead, the Los Angeles-native kept Todd in his sights and capitalized when the No. 252 Porsche slipped off-track with less than 10 minutes left. With Todd then on his bumper, Wattanawongkiri defended heavily and even withstood a door-to-door move in the final minute to keep the win. Todd’s Porsche sailed into the marbles following his last-lap attempt at the lead, allowing Kyle Washington – the Am class leader – to sneak by and finish second overall, with fellow Am competitors Peter Ludwig and Todd Parriott following suit to round out the Am podium. While Robert Todd dropped to fifth on the overall charts, he maintained second-in-class of Pro/Amdrivers, with Sam Parnagian’s No. 257 Porsche in third.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Casey Dennis led flag-to-flag to capture the win in the No. 174 Porsche and taking the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Am victory was Paul Bonderson. Bonderson’s win in the No. 43 Porsche also came as a result of a leader’s misstep, with Michael Gaulke getting tangled on track in the closing 15 minutes to relinquish the lead.
Sunday’s race’s was no exception to Saturday, showcasing lead battles and costly mistakes throughout the 35-minute sprint. The BR Racing team worked overnight to repair Robert Todd’s Porsche from Race 1 and the driver did not let their efforts go to waste. Todd raced polesitter Wattanawongkiri hard in the opening laps, and made a smooth pass within 10 minutes to claim the lead. While Todd would not be challenged for the top spot, Wattanawongkiri suffered a spin late in the race that dropped him to third in the Pro/Am class, with Kenton King and the No. 274 Black Sheep Racing finishing runner-up.
“It went really well,” said Todd. “The team worked all night, honestly. We had a mishap yesterday at the end, broke the steering rack, so they worked really hard during the night and got the car back to a great position. We started second and had an amazing battle with Will. I’ve got to give that guy props – he races clean and I really respect him.” While Kyle Washington scored a nearly seamless Race 1 Am class win the day prior, Sunday featured a back-and-forth fight between him, Peter Ludwig and Laura Ely. Ludwig’s No 211 Porsche leapt from third to first over his two competitors with 10 minutes remaining, but once again a costly off-track excursion dropped the leader down the charts.The battle between Washington and Ely then commenced, as Ely took the lead with five minutes remaining in her No. 209 Porsche. However, she too spun just minutes later, allowing Washington to drive by and sweep the Am victories at Spring Mountain. Ely held on to third and Ludwig fourth, while Dmitri Novikov stole second place. Also sweeping the weekend was Casey Dennis in the 991 GT3 Cup class, while Paul Bonderson and
Michael Gaulke swapped spots in the Cayman GT4 Clubsport class, leaving Gaulke on top in Sunday’s race and both drivers collecting a win this weekend.
Porsche Sprint Challenge packs up in Nevada and quickly travels to Barber Motorsports Park for the series’ next North American championship doubleheader. After opening the season in March at Sebring International Raceway, PSCNA returns to action this upcoming weekend for Rounds 3 and 4, which run as part of the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Alabama weekend. On Saturday, April 29, Race 1 for Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. ET, with the first race for Porsche GT3 Cup following at 4:35 p.m. The final pair of races are set for Sunday at 8 a.m. for Cayman GT4 Clubsport and 8:55 a.m. for GT3 Cup. Sonoma Raceway will host the next event for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama on June16 – 18.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live on FloSports, in addition to the series’ YouTube channel. More information can also be found at www.porschesprint.com and on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Las Vegas, Nevada | April 21, 2023 | Premier Racing will launch a new Porsche motorsports program beginning this weekend. The veteran race winning team will introduce longtime Premier SportsCar Service client Michael Londo (Las Vegas, Nevada) to the 2023 stable of Porsche one-make racing drivers. Londo will pilot the No. 111 Body Balance System Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car for the full season of Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama. The season-opening round will take place on the combination’s home track, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, April 21 – 23.
Londo is not a new face at Premier, but he is new to the competition arm of the Kent Moore-led operation. He raced as a karter in his 20s before turning his attention to growing successful businesses such as Body Balance System but is now returning to his passion of racing. Working through a planned course of simulators, track days and heavy testing outlined as part of the Premier Racing Development program, Londo, Moore, team manager Sam Weber and Premier driving coach Craig Stanton developed a long term course for success. The Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West series, one step below the Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America on the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America, is a steppingstone from track days and club racing to full professional racing. The No. 111 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car is entered in the 991 class for the season. This is for previous generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars, the type 991.2.
Practice gets underway at the Pahrump, Nevada track on Friday, April 21 at 1:20 p.m. PT. A second 40-minute session at 4:20 p.m. will close the first day. Londo will wield the 500 hp car in qualifying on Saturday at 10:50 a.m. followed by the first of two 35-minute races at 2:40 p.m. Race 2 will take the green flag on Sunday, April 23 at 8:00 a.m.
Live timing and scoring of all sessions as well as streaming of both races can be found www.PorscheSprint.com.
Kent Moore, Team Principal, Premier Racing |
“Everyone at Premier Racing is very excited about this. Mike has been a great customer at our shop for years. He showed so much interest and raw talent, we began him in our Premier Racing Development program, making sure he had the tools to be a success before throwing him to the wolves. This past winter, we talked about taking this next step. It is a big one, so we really did our homework with testing. He aced everything we threw at him. He has proven himself to be one of the quickest guys we have put into a car. He listens, he learns quickly. That has been key to us deciding now is the right time. This is the next step and we are fully confident in where we stand entering this new program with Mike.”
About this weekend.
“We couldn’t ask for a better series than the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West or a better location for Mike to make his debut. Spring Mountain is our home track and he knows the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. We have done the majority of our testing here. So, he is very comfortable. That eliminates a major distraction. It will be daunting enough to go against drivers with experience in the series and with these cars in competition, but his surroundings will be familiar, and we feel we have a very good setup on the Porsche.”
Michael Londo, Driver, No. 111 Body Balance System Porsche 911 GT3 Cup |
“We have been working to put this together for a few years and the timing is now right. I have raced long enough to know Kent was who I wanted to drive with because of his expertise and wisdom with Porsches. This is just the first season, but the goal is to continue with Premier next year and beyond and keep the progression moving forward.”
About debuting at his local track |
“I don’t think many other teams have done any or much testing at Spring Mountain whereas I have hundreds of laps there. I feel it will give us a great advantage on the field. Being my first year in a car like this, we can use every advantage we can get.”
About his goals for 2023 |
“I am beyond super competitive in racing so the expectation for me is to win or podium this weekend and win the championship for this season.”
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sebring Int Raceway | Feb 28 - March 2, 2025 |
| Round 2 | Sonoma Raceway | APRIL 4 - 6, 2025 |
| Round 3 | Circuit of the Americas | MAY 16 - 18, 2025 |
| Round 4 | Virginia International Raceway | JULY 11 - 13, 2025 |
| Round 5 | Road America | AUGUST 8 -10, 2025 |
| Round 6 | Watkins Glen International | AUGUST 29 -31, 2025 |
| Round 7 | Road Atlanta | September 12 - 14, 2025 |
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Spring Mountain | MARCH 21 - 23, 2025 |
| Round 2 | Sonoma Raceway | APRIL 4 - 6, 2025 |
| Round 3 | Circuit of the Americas | MAY 16 - 18, 2025 |
| Round 4 | Burt Brothers Motorpark | MAY 30 - JUNE 1, 2025 |
| Round 5 | Weathertech Raceway | JULY 25 - 27, 2025 |
| Round 6 | Road Atlanta | September 12 - 14, 2025 |
