The Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama championship made its lone trip to the West this weekend, running at the beloved Sonoma Raceway in Northern California.
The annual schedule shakeup meant drivers in the series – which typically runs in East and Central time zone tracks – had a near-level playing field with little experience to lean on. As a result, eight races for four classes had a variety of winners and some of the most exciting racing yet in 2025.
No repeat winners in Sprint Challenge North America 992 GT3 Cup
Four winners were crowned in four class battles for Sprint Challenge North America’s 992 GT3 Cup categories.
In the Pro-Am class, young driver Cole Kleck fell prey to his lack of experience by starting on pole for Race 1, but quickly receiving a penalty for changing lanes prior to the green flag.
The focus then shifted to Alan Metni and Blake McDonald. As Metni battled with another class leader for the overall win, McDonald closed in during the final minutes. Despite the late surge, Metni held on for his first win of the year over his Kellymoss teammate by .315 seconds.
Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program member Therese Lahlouh made a stunning charge through the field from ninth on the grid to finish third.
In Race 2, however, Kleck proved he learned from his earlier mistakes and led flag-to-flag en route to the win – his third of the season with Topp Racing. McDonald captured a second runner-up position, while Metni finished on the podium again in third.
In the Masters class, California native Kayden Kelly did use his local experience to win the first race of the weekend, despite testing the limits with fellow class leader Metni towards the end of the race.
Scott Blind and Reinhold Krahn finished second and third, respectively, and both drivers would advance a position by the end of Race 2. Kelly was poised for a weekend sweep in the class, but a late-race drive-through elevated Blind to his second win of the year with Ruckus Racing, and Krahn to second place. Kelly rebounded for third.
Dyselski and Cecchi Earn First Victories, Scalzo also victorious in Cayman class
The only driver to sweep-in-class at Sonoma was Danny Dyselski with VPX Motorsport, and his 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro-Am wins could be credited to a particular reason.
Dyselski – a newcomer to sports car racing after an upbringing in open wheel competition – competed in the same model and at the same racetrack in GT4 America the week prior, and took his learnings all the way to victory lane this time around in Sprint Challenge.
Jens Hanston was the next closest competitor, but was no match for Dyselski’s strength. After sweeping the opening event at Sebring International Raceway, Hanston earned double runner-up finishes at Sonoma.
Splitting third-place finishes was a duo of racers from the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program – Erika Hoffman in Race 1 for the first time in her career, and Anna Checchi in Race 2.
Anna wasn’t the only member of her family in the limelight with CHR at Sonoma – her father, Greg, scored his first professional racing victory in the Cayman Masters class in Race 1. Lady Luck was on the elder Checchi’s side as the leading car of Alain Scalzo spun with less than 10 minutes remaining to promote his competitor to the win and Daniel Ammann to second.
Running under his own team banner, Scalzo rebounded to not only finish third in Race 1, but back on the top step in Race 2 for his third win of the year. Greg Cecchi with CHR followed in second, with Bill Fenech in third.
The next round of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama takes place at another joint event, this time at Circuit of The Americas. The Austin, Texas racetrack hosts Sprint Challenge North America, its USA West series counterpart, and the third round of Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama on May 16 – 18.
992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium
Pro-Am
- Alan Metni
- Blake McDonald
- Therese Lahlouh
Masters
- Kayden Kelly
- Scott Blind
- Reinhold Krahn
992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium
Pro-Am
- Cole Kleck
- Blake McDonald
- Alan Metni
Masters
- Scott Blind
- Reinhold Krahn
- Kayden Kelly
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium
Pro-Am
- Danny Dyselski
- Jens Hanston
- Erika Hoffman
Masters
- Greg Cecchi
- Dan Ammann
- Alain Scalzo
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium
Pro-Am
- Danny Dyselski
- Jens Hanston
- Anna Cecchi
Masters
- Alain Scalzo
- Greg Cecchi
- Bill Fenech
Full 992 GT3 Cup Race 1 results can be found here. Full Race 2 results can be found here.
Full 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 results can be found here. Full Race 2 results can be found here.
All photos can be found here.
