An unpredictable weekend for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama welcomed newcomers to the top step of the podium at Watkins Glen International, running the fifth of seven races for the series in 2024.
While Jared Thomas and JTR Motorsports Engineering took the honors in Saturday’s race at Watkins Glen, it was Sunday’s race that caught attention for a stunning conclusion in 992 GT3 Cup.
Conrad Geis found himself as the Race 2 winner for MDK Motorsports, albeit only after the top three contenders were collected in an incident during the closing minutes. Geis’ former teammate, Ashley Freiberg, led the majority of the race from pole position, but Thomas sought a three-wide move between her and lapped traffic that went awry.
The two went off track and collected third-place Paul Bocuse, elevating Geis to his first win, David Musial to second, and Therese Lahlouh to her first podium in the series.
Scott Blind swept the weekend in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, winning ahead of podium finishers Dave Musial Sr., Rob Walker and Joel Johnson across the two races.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Tony Malito gained ground on championship leader Nick Meissner following a win and runner-up finish in both races at Watkins Glen. While Meissner won on Saturday, he encountered an issue in the opening laps on Sunday that brought him to pit lane and promoted Malito to the win.
Caroline Candas scored her first victory on North American soil this weekend at Watkins Glen, winning on Saturday with Rafa Racing by JDX in the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro/Am class. Candas has been in the mix with Ian Porter and Nick Shaeffer throughout the season, and she took advantage of the two clashing early and removing themselves from contention while battling for the lead.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program member led a 1-2 finish for the ladies in Sprint Challenge on Saturday, as fellow program member Loni Unser finished second-in-class en route to her best result of the year. Porter, meanwhile, battled back for the victory on Sunday, while Candas followed up with a second-place finish. Nick Shaefferthen rounded out the podium in his final race with the series before embarking on a two-year mission trip.
In the Cayman Masters class, Alain Scalzo emerged with his best performance of the year and a weekend sweep at Watkins Glen. Scalzo capitalized on excellent qualifying efforts to finish both races ahead of championship leader, Michael Clark.
For Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama and its sister USA West series, Road America will host the next round as part of a joint event. The weekend also features the second of four Porsche Endurance Challenge North America races, with on-track activity taking place on August 9 – 11.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Official Results:
Porsche GT3 Cup – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel.
For Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, it was a tale of two races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during the series’ fourth doubleheader of 2024.
Laguna Seca marked the beginning of the second half of the season, and nearly 25 cars took part in the event weekend, which was headlined by the INDYCAR Series.
At the front of the pack, all eyes were on James Li for Racewerkz and Blake McDonald for BR Racing, competing for the overall 992 GT3 Cup Pro-Am victory. Entering the weekend, Li had scored back-to-back wins, yet McDonald still topped the class’s championship standings.
While Li started second in Race 1 behind his rival, he quickly took the lead on the first lap and drove to a dominant win. However, the rest of the competitors were tested not only by the circuit and its limits but also by each other.
Several instances involving contact sent drivers spinning, even in the closing minutes, with lapped traffic altering the Pro-Am podium. McDonald ran second throughout the race but, in trying to avoid a collision between slower cars in the Corkscrew, was narrowly overtaken by Casey Dennis for the position and finished third.
Drivers cleaned up their act on Sunday for Race 2, however, which allowed for an entertaining race between McDonald and Li. The latter stalked McDonald as the laps ticked by but pushed a bit too hard midway through the race, taking a spin in the Corkscrew and dropping him down the order. McDonald collected the win with Dennis in second place again, while James Sofronas rounded out the podium in third.
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters category, Kevin Woods ran nearly uncontested en route to a weekend sweep. Woods’ dominance came as a result of excellent qualifying efforts. The BR Racing driver started third in Race 1, four cars ahead of his next closest competitor, and fourth in Race 2, with two cars between him and second place.
While Woods could not be reached, Jim Walsh put on one of his best driving performances by clinching runner-up on both Saturday and Sunday in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class. Steve Miller finished third in Race 1, while Laura Ely recovered from contact and a subsequent spin on Saturday to complete Sunday’s podium.
Bad luck struck twice for Michael Gaulke in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Masters class, as he was poised for a double victory at Laguna Seca but walked away with two fourth-place finishes.
After crossing the finish line first in Race 1, Gaulke was penalized for incident responsibility with another competitor that revoked his win. And while leading Race 2, he pulled his Porsche off track on the final lap with an issue, handing the win to Richard Kinsey after the two had previously engaged in a great battle for the lead midway through the race.
Gaulke still keeps his lead in the championship standings, while Kinsey inched closer with two wins this weekend.
Also maintaining his championship lead was Eli Kogan, who scored both Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Pro-Am victories at Laguna Seca with four rounds remaining.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama takes a summer break from the racetrack before returning to Road America on August 9 – 11 as part of a joint event with its Porsche Sprint Challenge North America counterpart. That series, however, has a trip to Watkins Glen International in upstate New York on July 5 – 7 before heading to Wisconsin.
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama Official Results: Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama passed the halfway point of its 2024 championship season this weekend, running four races at the scenic VIRginia International Raceway.
While some drivers strengthened their control in class, others continued to find their stride and take turns in the spotlight with three events remaining.
While Jared Thomas exhibited another flawless performance at VIR, taking both 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am and overall victories for JTR Motorsports Engineering, it was Ashley Freiberg who dominated the conversation on both Saturday and Sunday.
It was only last week that Freiberg struck a deal with Kellymoss that allowed her to continue campaigning this year in Sprint Challenge.
With her new team, Freiberg proved her worth at VIR by passing nearly 40 cars across the two races. She was forced to start from the back of the pack in Race 1 after a qualifying penalty, and in Race 2, she was knocked from fourth on the first lap to nearly last. However, she powered her Porsche to the front in both instances to clinch two third-place finishes in class and even third overall on Sunday to conclude the weekend.
Freiberg maintains third in the 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am championship standings, which are led by Thomas over Paul Bocuse who finished runner-up in both races at VIR.
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, Mark Boden also found the top step of the podium twice for Fall-Line Motorsports. Boden kept leader Joel Johnson in his sights on Saturday and made the race-winning pass with less than 10 minutes on the clock.
On Sunday, though, Boden faced less pressure as Johnson’s contact with Freiberg at the start forced him to retire his Porsche after Lap 1. Tim Kezman finished on the Masters podium in both events, while John Gilliland wrapped up the top-three on Sunday.
Lastly in the 991 GT3 Cup class, the fight was wide open as Charlie Peter – winner of the last three of four rounds – was not on the grid at VIR.
In search of his first victory since the opening rounds at Sebring International Raceway in March, Niels Meissner was eager to lead the charge and did so in both rounds. However, Meissner was only credited for the Race 2 victory after being penalized in Race 1 for early contact with eventual winner Tony Malito.
As he’s already done at two events in 2024, Ian Porter sailed to this third Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport weekend sweep with Rafa Racing by JDX.
Despite the dominating statistics, Porter’s reign continues to be challenged by Nick Shaeffer and Caroline Candas, both of whom finished second and third, respectively, in both races this weekend.
The pair kept Porter within their reach after mid-race restarts but resolved themselves to battling for the runner-up spot as Porter found his rhythm and drove off in clean air.
In Race 2, however, Shaeffer – who bids adieu to the series next month ahead of a two-year mission trip to Ecuador – was forced to defend versus Candas for numerous laps before the checkered flag, only coming out .330 seconds on top.
The Cayman GT4 Clubsport Masters class victories were split between Kelly Moss teammates William Peluchiwski on Saturday and Matt Joffe on Sunday.
Peluchiwski earned his first victory of the year after championship leader Michael Clark fell victim to a first-lap spin off track.
Meanwhile, it was Matt Joffe’s second win of 2024 as he and his crew continue a partial season effort for Joffe’s Porsche.
It was a double-podium weekend for both drivers while Clark recovered to finish runner-up on Sunday, and Jason Golan finished third place the day prior.
From East Coast to West Coast, Porsche Sprint Challenge wastes no time getting back on track.
The USA West series prepares for its next doubleheader of the year at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Northern California on June 21 – 23.
It’s another short turnaround for the North America series’ return to Watkins Glen International on July 5 – 7.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Official Results:
Porsche GT3 Cup – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Motorsport North America and the Mobil 1 brand proudly unveiled their latest initiative, the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America, to foster the participation and growth of female racecar drivers throughout the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America.
The newly unveiled program aims to create a supportive environment that showcases and nurtures female talent by equipping them with the necessary resources to excel in the world of motorsports.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America embodies both Mobil 1 and Porsche’s unwavering commitment to promoting gender diversity in motorsports and paving the way for a more equitable future for all racing enthusiasts.
“At Mobil 1, it is core to our mission to share the love of driving. We’re dedicated to creating opportunities to elevate our passion and champion sponsorships that allow a more diverse and inclusive group of drivers,” shares Jennifer Durgin, North America Lubricants Marketing Manager, on behalf of Mobil 1.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Porsche on this remarkable initiative to further empower female racing talent to thrive at every level, both on and off the track. Through this program, we’ll take steps towards providing resources and developing a more equal road ahead for female racers.”
The Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program North America gives aspiring female drivers the opportunity to hone their skills and pursue their dreams of becoming professionals through a unique platform. Throughout the year, Porsche and the Mobil 1 brand will provide drivers in the program:
Participants in the program who will compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America this season include Sabre Cook and Madeline Stewart. For the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, drivers include Paige Morales, Caroline Candas, Loni Unser, Ashley Freiberg and Therese Lahlouh.
This initiative has provided affiliated drivers with exposure and opportunities to work with brands like never before, including the trailblazing first recipient Sabre Cook, who has been racing a Porsche on-track and also representing Porsche in a number of marketing initiatives.
Chloe Chambers, who was part of the program in 2023, was selected by the Haas F1 team to compete in F1 Academy, a female-only single-seater racing championship that races at major Formula 1 races across the globe.
Both the Mobil 1 brand and Porsche will host an annual workshop this July, which will focus on two key areas of development – training and business skills. The training portion will have each of the drivers working with a specialized trainer that will help them focus on an exercise routine tailored to each driver’s performance. The workshop will also include expert presentations to provide special insights on diet and nutrition, the importance of sleep, mental preparation, and other key topics that promote optimal physical health for racecar drivers.
Additionally, expert speakers will provide presentations on media training, sponsorship, personal branding, etc. with the goal of providing valuable off-track training to secure high-profile opportunities.
“After launching the Porsche North America Female Driver Program last year, we have been thrilled with the rapid growth in the number of female drivers who are not only competing in championships, which are part of our young driver development pyramid, but also winning,” adds Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America. “The team at Mobil 1 shares our goal of further encouraging young female drivers to take the next step in their motorsport careers. Together, we hope to provide these women with the support, tools, and education to help them really advance.”
Holzmeyer concludes, “Porsche and Mobil 1 have enjoyed a long-term partnership across many programs around the world, including the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup supporting Formula 1 events. Having Mobil 1 join us as the naming rights partner for the Female Driver Program will help Porsche in this important initiative.”
Racing fans can tune in throughout the summer as the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America continues its season at Virginia International Raceway from June 14-16, 2024, and Porsche Carrera Cup North America returns to the track at Watkins Glen International from June 20-22, 2024. For more information on the program, visit porschecarreracup.us/female-driver-program/.
Porsches and star power descended on Circuit of The Americas (COTA) this past weekend in Austin, Texas, as Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West by Yokohama combined for their first joint event of 2024 and the inaugural Porsche Endurance Challenge North America championship got underway.
The likes of actor Patrick Dempsey, decorated racers such as Jan Magnussen, Porsche Carrera Cup North America points leader Loek Hartog and past Porsche championship winners such as Riley Dickinson and Zachary Vanier were just a handful of drivers eager to take part in the series’ biggest weekend to date.
Porsche single-make racing launched its first-ever endurance race in North America, featuring a one-hour race that competitors came out in droves to support.
The inaugural victory went to Paul Bocuse, 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Cayman class champion and current 992 GT3 Cup competitor, in the No. 271 MDK Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, alongside former Porsche Carrera Cup North America multiple-race winner Trenton Estep.
After starting from pole position, the pair shuffled throughout the order in Sunday’s race. However, in the closing stages, Estep moved into the lead and on to victory.
Anthony Mcintosh and 2022 Carrera Cup champion Parker Thompson with JTR Motorsports Engineering finished second in the inaugural event, while the battle for third came down to the final turn. Therese Lahlouh and Darius Trinka were poised to fight to the checkered flag, but tangled while coming to the front stretch, and both cars missed the corner. Jan Magnussen was third across the line in the second MDK car but suffered a penalty for a pit-lane infringement – handing the final podium spot to the No. 233 Porsche of Charlie Hayes and Reinhold Krahn.
In Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport action, Loek Hartog and Michael Clark came home with the win in the No. 17 Kellymoss Porsche.
The pair finished ahead of Wright Motorsports’ Patrick Dempsey – back on track for the first time since 2015 – and longtime Porsche driver Patrick Long. The duo jumped to second after starting sixth, while Jason Golan and Alexandre Premat finished third to give Kellymoss two spots on the first-ever Endurance Challenge Cayman class podium.
Porsche Endurance Challenge North America – Race Results
Ashley Freiberg became a first-time winner in the 992 GT3 Cup class on Saturday at COTA, impressively besting the season’s front-runner, Jared Thomas, in the final five minutes. Despite leading the entire race, Thomas was chased down by Freiberg in the closing laps to pass in her No. 22 MDK Motorsports Porsche.
Sunday brought heartbreak, however, as Freiberg was unable to take the green flag and Thomas returned to his winning ways in the No. 296 Porsche for JTR Motorsports Engineering. Paul Bocuse converted his two pole positions into podium finishes – and nearly a win on Sunday if not for a race-ending caution while making a pass on Thomas on the final lap.
David Musial Jr. finished third in Race 2.
Joel Johnson took home a double victory at COTA in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, driving the No. 227 JDX Racing Porsche and keeping John Gilliland at bay for two runner-up finishes. Mark Boden and Scott Blind split the third-place finishes in Race 1 and Race 2, respectively.
As he’s done several times this season, Charlie Peter ran nearly uncontested on Saturday en route to the first 991 GT3 Cup win of the weekend for Team Phenix. On Sunday, though, Peter tangled with his class rival, Nick Meissner, forcing the two out of contention and handing over the win to Tony Malito with Fall-Line Motorsports.
Despite a crash in practice, Ian Porter went on to win both races in the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport category. Porter wasn’t the most dominant Porsche, however, as Nick Shaeffer led the majority of the two races before experiencing late issues that resulted in retirements. Porter’s teammate, Caroline Candas, was there to bring home 1-2 finishes for the Rafa Racing Team by JDX in both rounds, while Loni Unser scored her season-best finish of third in Race 1, and Chris Hutter rounded out the Race 2 podium.
Unser’s Kellymoss teammate, Michael Clark, swept the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Masters races. He captured the win on Saturday with ease, but Sunday’s win was a battle of survival as the Masters leaders came together in a four-way battle, and Clark escaped unscathed.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America GT3 Cup Results – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Results – Race 1 and Race 2
After making his presence known at Utah Motorsports Campus in Rounds 3 and 4, James Li solidified his position as a top contender in the series this weekend at COTA. Li became the first winner in the 992 GT3 Cup class this year, aside from Blake Mcdonald, who started first in both races this weekend but eventually gave way to Li’s No. 255 RWE Porsche.
With clean air, Li took off from the rest of the field, leaving Mcdonald for two runner-up finishes and Casey Dennis and Luke French splitting third-place finishes.
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, Kevin Woods scored both victories, but not without late pressure from Laura Ely in the final minutes of Race 1 ahead of Jim Walsh. Walsh held off Ely in Race 2 for the runner-up spot, while the latter had a late incident that prevented her from a double podium weekend and snuck Reinhold Krahn in for third on Sunday.
Michael Gaulke was the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport victor on both Saturday and Sunday, driving the No. 99 Competition Motorsports Porsche.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West Results – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge holds back-to-back weekends next month with the North American championship at VIRginia International Raceway on June 14 – 16 and the USA West championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on June 21 – 23. Porsche Endurance Challenge North America returns in more than two months’ time at Road America on August 11.
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel.
Blake McDonald scored two wins this weekend in Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, but not without feeling the heat from Casey Dennis.
Utah Motorsports Campus hosted the second round of 2024, which McDonald sought to sweep similar to the season opener at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in March.
Despite starting first in both races with the No. 208 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, McDonald had a late acceleration to the green flag on Saturday and chased Dennis back for the lead. It was quick redemption as he regained first place on the next lap and went on for the victory, but only by a few seconds over Dennis.
On Sunday, McDonald corrected his mistake from the day prior and led flag-to-flag following an excellent start. While Dennis cut into his lead towards the end of the race, McDonald withstood the pressure to sweep his second consecutive PSCUW event with BR Racing. Sam Parnagian completed the podium by finishing third in both races.
“I’d say we didn’t (make the same mistake twice), too, and I think we sorted out the issue,” said McDonald on Sunday. “Casey was crazy fast. I was worried from start to finish. I think he’s going to keep me real honest, and we’re going to have a ton of fun this season.”
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, McDonald’s teammate, Kevin Woods, shone in Race 1 on Saturday. Woods’ team overcame gearbox issues early in the weekend and impressively started fourth after just two qualifying laps.
McDonald’s stutter at the start line inadvertently helped his teammate as the trailing line of cars was pushed back. And despite being five years away from a Porsche GT3 Cup racecar until this season, Woods was quick to jump ahead of the Masters field to score his second win of 2024.
On Sunday, however, it was Kyle Washington – coming back from fifth in the No. 232 GMG Racing Porsche – to clinch his first win of the year after two podiums at Spring Mountain.
In the Cayman GT4 Clubsport class, Eli Kogan continued his winning streak with victories on Saturday and Sunday, bringing his total to four on the season. In Cayman GT4 Clubsport Masters, Richard Kinsey became the third winner in the class on Saturday and doubled down for another victory on Sunday.
For the first time this year, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West by Yokohama will unite at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on May 24 – 26, with a trio of races scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday.
However, for the first time in series history, competitors will tackle a 60-minute endurance race – the first of three this season – before concluding with a six-hour enduro at COTA again later this year. The races will feature a class for 911 GT3 Cup cars and another for 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsports in a new-for-2024 championship that has been named the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama Official Results: Race 1 and Race 2
Thomas, Chambers dominate Sprint Challenge in Barber
In a weekend full of constant battles, multiple yellow flags, and even a flipped racecar, Jared Thomas and Chloe Chambers secured two victories in the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama GT3 Cup and Cayman GT4 Clubsport classes, respectively.
Barber Motorsports Park hosted the second round of Sprint Challenge in support of the INDYCAR Series weekend. While drivers such as Chambers joined for a one-off event, series regulars vied to score crucial championship points early in the year.
Porsche GT3 Cup:
Jared Thomas put on a masterclass in Porsche 992 GT3 Cup for the second consecutive event by winning both rounds at Barber in the No. 296 JTR Motorsports Engineering Porsche.
Thomas built a margin of 22 seconds en route to his Saturday victory and was poised to do the same on Sunday. Race 2, however, went on to finish under caution after the No. 285 Porsche of Jake Pedersen was sent flipping during a late-race restart. The Porsche Carrera Cup North America regular quickly notified officials he was okay and walked away from the incident.
While Thomas powered to his victories, the battle raged behind him for the remaining podium positions. Paul Bocuse led the charge for MDK Motorsports, finishing third in Race 1 and second in Race 2, while his teammate Ashley Freiberg finished third in Race 2.
Two-time Porsche Carrera Cup North America Pro-am champion Efrin Castro – who joined Sprint Challenge for the weekend in support of the Children’s of Alabama organization – took home a podium position of his own, finishing runner-up in Race 1.
In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class, Scott Blind steadily won on Saturday in the No. 245 Porsche while also finishing fifth overall among the Pro/Am contenders. However, in Race 2, Blind tangled with Saturday’s runner-up, Rob Walker, on the first lap, which opened the door for Joel Johnson to steal the victory on Sunday and similarly finish fifth on the overall charts.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Charlie Peter glided to a weekend sweep in the No. 166 Porsche, but not without pressure from Niels Meissner. Meissner meticulously worked his way through the field in both races and even looked to have a better chance of a challenge on Sunday before the late yellow flag. His No. 152 Porsche, however, was capped at second place in both rounds.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport:
Formula One Academy driver and 2023 Sprint Challenge North America competitor, Chloe Chambers, returned to the series at Barber to win the Cayman GT4 Clubsport category on both Saturday and Sunday.
While Chambers parachuted in this weekend to take the wins, all eyes were on Pro/Am championship leader Ian Porter, who charged from last on the grid of 26 cars in Race 1 to finish second by .411 seconds.
In Race 2, Porter used lapped traffic to close in on Chambers again in the final minutes. The No. 86 Porsche ran nose-to-tail behind Chambers, but was unable to pull door-to-door and finished a mere .229 seconds behind in second.
Porter’s Rafa Racing by JDX teammate, Caroline Candas, finished third in Race 1 after surviving a late-race, four-way battle for the podium. Nick Shaeffer, who was part of that fight but spun after contact, recovered to finish third on Sunday.
In the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Masters class, Michael Clark and Shaun McKaigue finished 1-2 in both contests, with Jason Golan and Jeffrey Majkrzak splitting the final spots on the podium.
In approximately one month, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama heads to Texas for its third event of the season at Circuit of The Americas on May 24 – 26. The Texas weekend will also be the opening round of the new Porsche Endurance Challenge North America series.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, splits the break with its second event of 2024 at Utah Motorsports Campus on May 10 – 12.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Official Results:
Porsche GT3 Cup – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport – Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel.
In the season-opening weekend for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, elbows were out quickly as more than 20 drivers tackled challenging weather conditions and ambitious competition at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Nevada.
The starting grid for Race 1 was shuffled after a red flag in qualifying on Saturday prevented flying laps by some of the series’ top contenders, and inclement weather shifted both races to Sunday.
Laura Ely in the No. 209 Porsche 992 GT3 Cup for Black Sheep Racing took advantage of the mixed lineup, starting on the second row and jumping to the lead in the opening minutes.
She nearly cruised to the win but as the morning temperatures rose, her tire pressures did as well. Kyle Washington was able to close in for a last-lap battle with his fellow Masters competitor, but crossed the line just .278 seconds behind Ely for the runner-up result.
“There had been a lot of challenges with tires this weekend with the rain and cold temperatures, so I just wanted to make sure I had enough grip early in the race to get a good position,” said Ely.
“We lucked out a little bit – we were P5 and moved up to P3 after some grid penalties that other drivers had, so we started on the inside of Row 2.
“I took advantage of that and made a pass on the first lap going into Turn 10, and took advantage of the grip. From then on, it was a pretty good track for the rest of the day.
“Towards the end, my pressures came up a little too much and I started to get a little loose. Kyle Washington came up behind me and gave me a battle right at the end, but we prevailed and got P1 overall.”
In the 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am class, Blake Mcdonald started on the backfoot by taking the green flag last in Race 1 driving the No. 208 BR Racing Porsche. However, he clawed his way through the field, and other competitors were dealt in-race penalties throughout the 35-minute, plus one-lap race. Mcdonald went on to claim the class victory, and with only three minutes left, he also sneaked onto the overall podium.
Starting Race 2 much more advantageously in second place, McDonald had a spirited battle with James Li as both drivers vied for the victory. The pair of 992 GT3 Cup Porsches swapped the top spot and fought side-by-side before Li withdrew to conserve his tires. While Li went on to finish sixth in the Pro/Am category, Sam Parnagian and Casey Dennis rounded out the podium on Sunday afternoon.
“After the bad qualifying results that we had, it feels really good to put it together like this,” said Mcdonald after clinching the overall victory in Race 2.
“That’s what I wanted to do in the first race and I’m glad I got it done now. I want to say a massive thank you to BR Racing – they’re taking this as serious as a factory GT3 team and they’ve given me a Cup car at its absolute best. I can’t thank them enough.”
McDonald’s teammate, Kevin Woods, completed the Race 2 sweep for BR Racing by starting and finishing first in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters class.
While Woods ran uncontested amongst the Pro/Am top-five, the fight for second and third in Masters was once again between Ely and Washington. Both drivers dashed around traffic in the final laps, but went on to finish second and third, respectively.
In the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport category, Michael Gaulke finished just car-lengths ahead of second-place Richard Kinsey for the Race 1 Masters class win.
However in Race 2, Gaulke was caught up in a first-lap incident that thwarted his chance at a weekend sweep. Rodd Wagner went on to win the class that afternoon, while Eli Kogan claimed both trophies in the Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro/Am category.
Porsche Sprint Challenge now has a month-long break until its next round for the North American championship on April 26 – 28 at Barber Motorsports Park. USA West is back on track two weeks later on May 10 – 12 at Utah Motorsports Campus.
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama Official Results: Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Sprint Challenge race replays are available on the series’ YouTube channel.
Porsche one-make series to race four endurance events culminating in Six Hours of COTA
With the overwhelming success of its one-make championships and the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America, Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) has announced the next evolution in one-make racing for the continent, the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.
The four-event championship will include three 60-minute races and a single six-hour endurance race which will bring the inaugural season to a close. The new race series will debut at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas on May 26, 2024, and conclude at the Texas track on November 22, 2024.
Each round will feature a top category for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car (type 992 and 991.2) and a class for the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. Cars currently authorized to race in either the United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctioned Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama or the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama are eligible to enter the Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.
The series will begin on Memorial Day weekend, May 26, with a 60-minute round at COTA. Being hosted on an established date for both the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama and the Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, the debut endurance round will be an exciting addition for teams, drivers and spectators looking for more single-brand competition.
Round two will follow on August 11 at “America’s National Park of Speed”, Road America. The Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin round – again one hour in length – will be a part of the weekend previously announced for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West. The penultimate race weekend will take place in the wine country of California, at Sonoma Raceway on September 29. The finale will crown the Porsche Endurance Championship’s inaugural victors in a stand-alone event at COTA.
The first three rounds, all 60 minutes in length, will mandate a single pit stop. Regulations for the six-hour endurance round, with its added drivers and consumables, will require a minimum of four stops for fuel.
The three opening rounds will allow a single driver format with a maximum of two drivers per car, with one of the drivers holding no more than a Bronze rating. The six-hour finale will require three drivers, and allow up to two drivers with a Bronze rating. Further technical details and regulations for the series will be announced at a later date.
The United States Auto Club, well known for decades as a leading motorsport sanctioning body, has overseen the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama since the series debut in 2021. USAC conducted the United States Road Racing Championship from 1958 – 1962.
It was the organization behind Indy Car racing and the Indianapolis 500 for decades and, today, USAC is one of the leading motorsports organizations in the USA. The Speedway, Indiana-based organization has oversight of series on many racing fronts including circle track, rally, off-road, snowmobile, karting and youth racing in its portfolio.
Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America
The Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America provides the racing industry’s only clear path for drivers, teams and marketing partners to progress through the ranks of sports car racing. From novice instruction and track days with Porsche road cars through to full participation in professional open competition around the world with purpose-built Porsche racing machines, Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA) provides a map, appropriate car and support throughout the journey. It is the perfect career pathway to move through the sports car racing echelons. At each step on the Pyramid, Porsche provides the appropriate tools, personnel and strategies to realistically model the career path for drivers, teams and partners.
Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America
“The Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America is designed to bridge the gaps through the ranks of racing in the United States and Canada. The Porsche Endurance Challenge North America will take this further. The series is designed to provide our one-make drivers – particularly those who don’t make racing their livelihood – and teams an endurance racing alternative with cars they know well: the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. We have focused on cost efficient ways to go endurance racing and, as all cars are the same, a very equal competition between the drivers participating. Initial interest has been very positive, and we look forward to our first event in Austin at the end of May.”
2024 Porsche Endurance Challenge North America Schedule
May 26: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas – 60 minutes
August 11: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin – 60 minutes
September 29: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California – 60 minutes
November 22 – 23: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas – Six hours
Drivers across all classes in this weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama season opener emerged as ones to watch as the year goes on, with Jared Thomas and Ian Porter leading the way.
At Sebring International Raceway, Thomas bested the field of Porsche GT3 Cup cars – featuring 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am and Masters classes, plus a class of 991 GT3 Cup cars – in both races, driving the No. 296 Porsche for JTR Motorsports Engineering.
Thomas dipped his toe into Sprint Challenge last year, winning both races in his lone outing at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course, and has now kickstarted his first full-season campaign in the series by doing the same at Sebring. While Race 1 ended under a full-course yellow – but nearly saw a final lap of action to threaten Thomas’ lead – Race 2 on Sunday ran the full duration for him to showcase his strengths.
“We went back to the drawing board last night, figuring out what we did right and what we did wrong,” said Thomas, a two-time Mazda MX-5 champion, on Sunday. “We made some adjustments that I think helped us out today. I’m super happy to have run the full distance there and not get hampered by a Safety Car; that’s obviously the last thing I wanted to have happen. I’ve got to thank my team, JTR, and the guys back at the shop, and I’m excited to start this season off great.”
Three strong contenders for 2024, and champions in their own right, battled for the remaining 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am podium positions – 2023 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro/Am champion Paul Bocuse, 2023 991 GT3 Cup champion Ashley Freiberg, and 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Global Am champion Anthony McIntosh. Orlando native Bocuse finished third in Race 1 behind Freiberg and second in Race 2 ahead of McIntosh.
Rob Walker and Niels Meissner mirrored Thomas’ results in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters and 991 GT3 Cup classes, respectively. Walker quietly inherited the Race 1 lead after two frontrunners tangled midway through the contest and withstood a constant presence from Scott Blind in Race 2 for the second win. Meissner sailed to the 991 GT3 Cup victory in both races, finishing top 10 overall amongst GT3 Cup competitors as well.
In the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport category, three-time Call of Duty World Champion Ian Porter traded his game controller for a steering wheel, achieving the same success in the Pro/Am category. Entering his first professional race weekend, Porter started from the pole position in both races and endured a last-lap shootout in Race 2 to clinch both victories.
Porter’s victories came in the first-ever stand-alone race for the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport – the 4.0 liter powered car racing in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama for the first time.
“The lights went out on the Safety Car, and I asked Alec (Udell, driving coach), ‘Hey, does this mean we’re starting again?’ and he said, ‘Yep, get ready to go,’” described Porter. “I thought, oh, here we go. But that’s how I want to win a race, just like that.
“Shoutout to the entire gaming community. It doesn’t matter what title you play. I’m just out here, touching grass, doing things in real life. I want to thank my wife, Dana, for putting up with me and all of this. It’s been a tough nine months or so trying to learn everything I can about this. I want to thank my family, my friends, but the biggest one of all is the Rafa Racing Team by JDX. I never would have done this if it wasn’t for their opportunity and also to Grid Finder – we’ve got the coolest looking car on the grid, for sure.”
Porter’s Rafa Racing by JDX teammate and Rafa Racing Female Driver Shootout winner Caroline Candas scored two runner-up finishes in her PSCNA debut, while Tillman Schmid finished third-in-class in both rounds but improved by finishing sixth overall in Race 1 to third overall in Race 2.
Matt Joffe and Jeffrey Majkrzak split wins in the Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Masters class, with the former landing on the overall podium in Race 1 and the latter taking his victory on Sunday after a runner-up finish the day prior. Alain Scalzo, Michael Clark, and William Peluchiwski also tallied podium finishes in the Masters class at Sebring.
With the first weekend of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America in the books, its counterpart series, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, will follow suit for its season opener at Spring Mountain. The Nevada-based circuit will host the series on March 29 – 31, while PSCNA returns to action next at Barber Motorsport Park on April 26 – 28.
Porsche GT3 Cup Official Results: Race 1 and Race 2
Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Official Results: Race 1 and Race 2
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Sebring Int Raceway | March 1-3, 2024 |
| Round 2 | Barber Motorsports Park | APRIL 26-28, 2024 |
| Round 3 | Circuit of the Americas | MAY 24-26, 2024 |
| Round 4 | Virginia International Raceway | JUNE 14-16, 2024 |
| Round 5 | Watkins Glen International | JULY 5-7, 2024 |
| Round 6 | Road America | AUGUST 9-11, 2024 |
| Round 7 | Sonoma Raceway | SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2024 |
| Round | event | date |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Spring Mountain | MARCH 29-31, 2024 |
| Round 2 | Utah Motorsports Campus | MAY 10-12, 2024 |
| Round 3 | Circuit of the Americas | MAY 24-26, 2024 |
| Round 4 | Weathertech Raceway | JUNE 21-23, 2024 |
| Round 5 | Road America | AUGUST 9-11, 2024 |
| Round 6 | Sonoma Raceway | SEPTEMBER 27-29, 2024 |
