Speedway, IN – BRM Chronographes, the renowned French luxury watchmaker celebrated for its innovative designs and commitment to precision engineering, proudly announces its sponsorship of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West Championship as the Official Championship Chronograph.
As a brand deeply rooted in the world of motorsports, BRM Chronographes is thrilled to align with the Porsche Sprint Challenge, an exhilarating racing series known for its adrenaline-pumping action and unwavering dedication to excellence. Designed with exceptional technical precision and never mass-produced, the company’s timepieces exemplify true luxury lifestyle. BRM is synonymous with individuality, exemplified with the new unique Porsche Sprint Challenge designed timepieces. BRM has built global relationships with racing’s elite, establishing a presence in more than 20 countries.
“Porsche’s legacy of motorsport innovation since the ’60s is a cornerstone for BRM Chronograph. Our collaboration with Martini Racing celebrates this shared history, showcasing our commitment to innovation. Inspired by Porsche’s ’70s aesthetics, BRM has been a color pioneer since the early 2000s. Looking forward to an extraordinary year of partnership.” – Frederic Gasser President BRM America
“BRM Chronographes embodies the spirit of precision and performance that Porsche stands for. We are thrilled to welcome them as a partner of the Porsche Sprint Challenge”, said Kevin Miller, United States Auto Club CEO. “Together, we will continue to deliver unforgettable experiences for drivers in the Porsche Sprint Challenge.”
Class Champions from Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West will receive a custom V644GTAR BRM Chrono as a result of their accomplishment. Each Chrono will be customized with Porsche Sprint Challenge branding to represent the winning of the 2024 Championship.
V644GTAR: automatic – stainless steel case with white dial with red hands and Porsche Sprint Challenge logo at 6 – screw down crown – racing number engraved – tachymeter – crystal sapphire front and back – alcantara strap – retail: $5750.00 – options: hands color could be changed – fount on dial could be changed – tachymeter color could be changed – lacquer could be added to the case – racing number (as well as color) on crown could be changes – strap colors hole and stitching could be changed – case metal could be change in titanium or aluminum, price upon request.
As part of the sponsorship, BRM Chronographes will showcase its exceptional timepieces at Porsche Sprint Challenge events, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to experience firsthand the craftsmanship and sophistication that define the brand.
The collaboration between BRM Chronographes and the Porsche Sprint Challenge promises to bring together two iconic brands in the world of motorsports, combining their expertise to create unforgettable experiences for drivers of the Porsche Sprint Challenge.
For more information about BRM Chronographes and its collection of luxury timepieces, please visit – https://www.facebook.com/BRM.Chronographes.Americas or https://www.instagram.com/brmamericas/
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
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama returns to action this weekend at Sebring International Raceway – boasting a double-digit increase in car count as the series embarks on its fourth year of competition.
Sixty-two entries across five classes will take on the first doubleheader of the 2024 season, which in total features seven events for Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and six for its western counterpart, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.
The five classes remain largely unchanged from 2023, with Pro/Am and Masters categories for Porsche 992 GT3 Cup (models 2021 – 2024) and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsports (models 2022 – 2024), in addition to a field of Porsche 991 GT3 Cup entries.
Three of the five champions from 2023 are back this year to defend their titles, albeit with changes. Ashley Freiberg and Paul Bocuse – the reigning 991 GT3 Cup and Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro/Am champions, respectively, and fellow MDK Motorsports teammates – have both jumped up into the top 992 GT3 Cup class for 2024. Defending Cayman GT4 Clubsport Masters titleholder Jason Golan returns to his class with Kelly Moss.
Racing newcomer Conrad Geis completes MDK Motorsports’ trio of drivers for 2024, while Golan is one of a series-high ten entries for Kelly Moss. Fall-Line Motorsports and Goldcrest Motorsports follow suit with six entries apiece, while JDX Racing returns with five entries.
More than ten drivers will be making their Porsche Sprint Challenge debut this weekend at Sebring, with a handful bringing experience from other single-make series. Drivers continue to explore the Porsche Motorsport North America Pyramid – stepping from Sprint Challenge to Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
For 2024, there are five females on the grid. Loni Unser has swapped her spot in the Sprint Challenge broadcast booth for a driver seat with Kelly Moss, and Therese Lahlouh joins as the first African American female in the series after competing in USA West last season.
“Porsche Sprint Challenge continues to be a vital step in our Porsche Motorsport North America pyramid. To have nearly a 30 percent increase in entries in Sebring this year is outstanding,” said Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America.
“We have another two young stars in Zachary Vanier and Madeline Stewart graduating to Carrera Cup this year, and they are following in the footsteps of Jimmy Llibre and Elias de La Torre, who made the jump from Sprint Challenge to Carrera Cup last year.
“The entry list for this year is very exciting with a host of young stars, talented experienced veterans, and four exceptional female racers.”
Two pairs of races are scheduled for this upcoming weekend, with Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport going green on Saturday at 1:35 p.m. ET and on Sunday at 9:40 a.m. GT3 Cup follows shortly after both with green flag times on Saturday at 3:20 p.m. and Sunday at 12:25 p.m.
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 | The 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge by Yokohama season concluded this weekend, featuring a joint event for the North American and USA West championships. Ten champions were crowned across the two divisions, following four races that ran through rain and sunshine at the Racing Capital of the World.
Zachary Vanier capped off his dream, championship-winning season with a double 992 GT3 Cup Pro/Am victory at Indy in the No. 206 MDK Motorsports Porsche. In 2023, Vanier won all but two races of the 14-round season, exuding near dominance no matter the track or conditions.
“This season was remarkable for my team, partners, and I,” said Vanier, who drove to each race on the Sprint Challenge calendar with his father. “We always unloaded the car with a strong baseline set and were able to quickly fine tune it, allowing me to focus on getting comfortable with the car and the track quickly. I give a big credit to the support system I had this season for pushing me to these results and ultimately allowing me to drive with the most amount of maturity I’ve demonstrated in my career.
“I experienced some challenging track conditions, both wet and dry, learned a new car and tire compound, as well as experienced some cool wins at historic places such as Indianapolis and Circuit of The Americas. I’m just extremely grateful for the opportunity I had this year and I’m really looking to use this momentum into next year.”
Vanier finished 44 points in the standings over Aidan Kenny, who looked to close the gap if not for being collected in a first lap incident during Race 1. The ACI Motorsports driver rebounded to finish third on the podium in Race 2, and the pair also finished 1-2 in the 2023 Porsche Juniors Championship.
“The biggest highlight I’ll take away from 2023 is simply the success that we encountered,” added Vanier, who eyes an entry in Porsche Deluxe Carrera Cup North America next season. “It’s not often you win all but two races in a season, so when it does happen, it’s something you cherish and be grateful for simply because it’s unknown if it’ll happen again. Of course, as a competitor you hope it does, but it’s just so unpredictable.”
In the sister USA West Pro/Am category, Robert Todd only needed to start and finish both rounds this weekend to clinch the championship. The BR Racing team owner elected to run conservatively in Thursday’s rainy first round, before gaining five positions and finishing third on Friday to complete the USA West class podium. James Li swept both USA West Pro/Am victories at Indy.
While Todd cruised to his title, the Pro/Am standings finished with only four points separating Kenton King in second, Will Wattanawongkiri in third and Kayden Kelly in fourth.
Championships were also decided in the 992 GT3 Cup Am classes for both North America and USA West. In PSCNA, David Williams topped Mark Boden for the title after scoring a win and runner-up finish this weekend. Boden scored a win himself in Race 1, but finished fourth-in-class on Friday.
In PSCUW, Peter Ludwig swept both Am class victories – and finished on the overall podium in Race 1 –to clinch the championship over Laura Ely by just 20 points.
Full 992 GT3 Cup results: Race 1 and Race 2.
Two champions took home honors in the 991 GT3 Cup class – Ashley Freiberg in PSCNA and Casey Dennis in PSCUW. Both drivers dominated their respective classes throughout the season, with Freiberg winning seven races in 2023 and Dennis winning all 12 rounds of his series.
With the 991 GT3 Cup class joining the Cayman GT4 Clubsport field once again at Indy, the 991 drivers competed for the overall lead in entertaining battles. PSCNA driver Dimitri Dimako – joining the series for the first time this weekend – stole the show in both races. However, a late penalty in Race 1 demoted his No. 169 Porsche down the field, elevating Dennis to a noteworthy victory and Freiberg to third overall, second-in-class.
Dimako came back in winning fashion on Friday, with Dennis finishing second. Freiberg was in the hunt for another podium finish, but clashed with a fellow frontrunner midway through the race and brought an early end to her final race of 2023.
In the Cayman GT4 Clubsport category, Paul Bocuse had much to celebrate in Race 1 after scoring his first victory of the year and all but clinching the North American title, which he went on to do the following day. While it was only his first win of 2023, a consistent season placed Bocuse ahead of the stacked Pro/Am field throughout the year. The MDK Motorsports driver finished second on Friday behind winner Florian Eyme.
With six wins this season, Jason Golan captured the PSCNA Am title over William Peluchiwski and Alain Scalzo, both of whom were winners at Indy.
In the USA West Pro/Am category, which wrapped up at the last event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the championship went to Matthew Paige, while Michael Gaulke sealed the Am title at Indy.
Full 991 GT3 Cup / Cayman GT4 Clubsport results: Race 1 and Race 2.
All replays of 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West by Yokohama races are available to stream live on the series’ YouTube channel. More information can also be found at www.porschesprint.com and on social media via Facebook, Instagram and X.
Salinas, CA | Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama ran its penultimate round of the season this weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with nearly 30 cars running to support the INDYCAR Series finale event.
After a qualifying session that saw the top-three Porsche 992 GT3 Cup race cars separated by just .009 seconds, a morning shower limited green flag action for Race 1 on Saturday. Kenton King, the WeatherTech Pole Position Award winner, went on to score the Pro/Am class victory with Robert Todd and Charlie Hayes completing the podium.
Later in the day for Race 2, Todd mirrored King’s earlier performance by starting from the pole position himself and leading from green flag to checkered. King and Hayes ran second and third, but both drivers faltered and fell down the order mid-race. Will Wattanawongkiri was elevated to second in Pro/Am after starting seventh and after an incident in Race 1, Sam Parnagian recovered to finish third.
In the Porsche 992 Am category, Peter Ludwig started first in both races but faced a handful of obstacles. Ludwig led for the five minutes of action in Race 1, but was running near Parnagian’s incident that brought out a yellow flag with 30 minutes remaining. While the race would not restart due to weather, it was determined Ludwig’s Porsche fell behind Laura Ely and Kyle Washington as he navigated the incident, giving the win to Ely and ultimately finishing third.
With both King and Ely – who are teammates at Black Sheep Racing – winning their respective classes in Race 1, the achievement marks only the second time a Sprint Challenge USA West team has swept their class victories and the first team to do so in the 992 categories. Flying Lizard, a fellow California-based team, holds the record for a three-class sweep last season at two tracks.
In Race 2, Ludwig maintained the lead from start to finish, but held off a hard-charging Ely seeking her second win. Ely started five spots behind Ludwig and finished within a second, while Washington took home another podium in third.
In the 992 GT3 Cup championship standings and with one round remaining, Todd leads King by less than 30 points, while Ludwig leads Ely by only 15 points. Casey Dennis, meanwhile, had yet another dominant weekend in the Porsche 991 class, sweeping both wins on Saturday. John McInnes shared the podium alongside Dennis in both races, finishing second in Race 1 and third in Race 2, with Jim Walsh and Michael Zuieback having their turn in the top-three as well.
In both races on Saturday, Jade Avedisian and Michael Gaulke claimed swept the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro/Am and Am class victories, respectively.
Official results: Race 1 and Race 2.
The 2023 finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is all that remains for both Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West. After first joining together at Circuit of The Americas last month, the two series will reunite again on October 4 – 7 to conclude both seasons.
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 Sprint Challenge USA West brought its highest car count of the season this past weekend to Utah Motorsports Campus, with more than 30 cars joining the series’ third round of 2023. Located half an hour west of Salt Lake City, the 3.048-mile track configuration saw side-to-side battles amongst five Porsche classes. As he did at the previous event at Sonoma Raceway, Robert Todd swept the weekend in the No. 252 BR Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup, albeit not without a challenge, as USA West reached the halfway point of its season.
After winning the WeatherTech Pole Position Award to start first on Saturday morning, Robert Todd controlled Race 1 at Utah, but was assisted by a lengthy full-course yellow that flew during the opening laps of the race. Cleanup from the incident took nearly 20 minutes, with only nine minutes of action remaining when the field returned to green.
At the restart, James Sofronas was unable to match Todd for the Pro/Am class lead, but maintained a gap to the rest of the pack to easily finish second in the No. 204 Porsche. The battle for third-in-class, however, was yet to be settled. Kayden Kelly held the position, but in his efforts to pass Dmitri Novikov’s 992 GT3 Cup Am car just ahead for a spot on the overall podium, he opened the door for Jake Pedersen to pass by on the final lap and steal third in Pro/Am.
Novikov ultimately held on to finish third overall and first in the Am class, with Peter Ludwig and Kyle Washington following suit in their 992 GT3 Cup cars.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Jim Walsh started from the lead in the No. 196 Porsche, but dropped to second behind eventual winner Casey Dennis in the No. 174. John McInnes snuck in to finish third, after Michael Zuieback held the spot at the start of the race.
On Saturday afternoon for Race 2, Todd faced much stiffer pressure from Sofronas, but ultimately collected his fifth consecutive win dating back to the season opener at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. After initially starting third behind Kelly, Sofronas quickly made a pass for second before going door-to-door with Todd on several occasions until the latter began to pull away.
“I could not be more pleased with the results from the weekend, it was a dream,” said Todd. “The team really rose to the requirements that Utah threw at us in terms of both conditions like the heat and any issues we had with our customers cars. I cannot thank BR Racing and the crew enough for all their hard work to make something like this happen.
“Coming off the tight races at Sonoma, I knew that James would really be bringing the pressure to me and the series, and he did not let us down. He truly kept me honest through both races. Having someone like James in this series truly speaks to the caliber of what USAC has built in partnership with Porsche and Yokohama and where they are going. Together with James, I hope to continue to raise the level of the series and get more drivers involved that have been considering joining.”
Jake Pedersen once again rounded out the Pro/Am podium, passing Kelly for third with just over 10 minutes to go, but running with too far of a gap from the leaders to advance further.
Dmitri Novikov and Peter Ludwig dueled again for the Am class victory, with the latter leading the majority of the race until Novikov made a pass in the closing minutes to sweep the weekend. After finishing third in Race 1, Kyle Washington fell victim to a mid-race incident while trying to pass a slower car that took him out of contention and allowed Laura Ely to score her first podium of the weekend.
Both 991 GT3 Cup class victories went to Casey Dennis and RWE Racing on Saturday. After finishing second earlier in the day, Jim Walsh was another competitor out of contention for a second trophy after being collected in a multi-car incident on Lap 1. Zuieback then reclaimed a spot on the 991 podium by finishing second, with Mark Nelson rounding out in third.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport field was represented this weekend by both Matthew Paige, winning in the No. 22 BR Racing Pro/Am entry and Race 1’s Yokohama Apex Award, and Michael Gaulke, winning the Am category with the No. 99 Competition Motorsports Porsche.
Official results: Race 1 and Race 2.
Road America hosts the next round for Porsche Sprint Challenge, reuniting the North American series’ GT3 Cup and Cayman GT4 Clubsport fields following a GT3 Cup-only round earlier this month at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The weekend will take place on August 11 – 13, with the next event for USA West scheduled for August 25 – 27, as part of a joint weekend with its sister series at Circuit of The Americas.
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 (November 2, 2023) – On the heels of a thrilling 2023 season that wrapped up in October, Porsche Sprint Challenge by Yokohama has announced the 2024 schedule for the North American and USA West championships.
Entering its fourth season of competition in 2024, Sprint Challenge strengthens year-to-year on the Porsche One-Make Pyramid North America as a feeder series into Porsche Carrera Cup North America. Decisions – including those about venues and scheduling – are largely based on feedback from customers and participants.
For 2024, changes to the calendar include a third joint event for North America and USA West at Road America, which only the former series visited in 2023. Next year will be the first trip for USA West to the popular, 4.048-mile Elkhart Lake racetrack. Another addition to the North American calendar is that of Watkins Glen International. The iconic circuit is set to host a doubleheader weekend in July.
While next year brings a handful of changes for both Sprint Challenge championships, the series also boasts schedule stability for 2024. With the exception of Watkins Glen, the upcoming North American venues all hosted events this year and the same applies to USA West with the exception of Road America.
Class structures will also carry through to 2024. The top class for the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup class, the 992 GT3 Cup class, is expected to see an increase in car count, and it has been announced the 991 GT3 Cup class will continue for another season with the current Type 991.2 models. The Cayman GT4 Clubsport classes will see an enhancement for 2024, as the series introduces the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport as the exclusive model for all respective classes.
In the North American championship, Sprint Challenge will also continue to support the Porsche Motorsport North America Junior Program. It will again have two classes for the Sprint Challenge Junior Program in both 992 GT3 Cup and in 718 GT4 RS Clubsport. Drivers between the approximate ages of 15 to 22 will compete for various prizes and financial support throughout the season with the hopes of being crowned Junior Champion.
“Creating a season calendar is never an easy task,” offered Ryan Anselmo, Porsche Motorsport North America Business Development Specialist. “ It requires tracks that test the drivers; where they can learn but also enjoy the racing. These tracks also need to be ones that drivers want to go to, and often, to take their families along. When you look at these schedules, and the shared events, we are very happy with what Randy and Kevin have put together. They perfectly align with where we want the series to be on the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid North America and are looking forward to getting back out on track in 2024.”
Full calendars for the North American and USA West championships are listed below, and all events will broadcast live on FloRacing.com and the series’ YouTube channel. Follow along with Porsche Sprint Challenge action throughout the season at www.porschesprint.com, and on social media using the hashtags #PorscheSCNA and #PSCNA for the North American championship and #PorscheSCUW and #PSCUW for USA West.
Schedules
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America:
March 1 – 3: Sebring International Raceway
April 26 – 28: Barber Motorsports Park (with INDYCAR)
May 24 – 26: Circuit of The Americas*
June 14 – 16: VIRginia International Raceway
July 5 – 7: Watkins Glen International
August 9 – 11: Road America*
September 27 – 29: Sonoma Raceway*
Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West
March 29 – 31: Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
May 10 – 12: Utah Motorsports Campus
May 24 – 26: Circuit of The Americas*
June 21 – 23: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (with INDYCAR)
August 9 – 11: Road America*
September 27 – 29: Sonoma Raceway*
*Joint event with North America and USA West
Austin, TX | For the first time this season, the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and USA West series combined for a joint event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) with a field of nearly 70 entries across five classes and five races. Racing in stifling heat, competitors across the country battled against both familiar and new faces on the 3.4 mile-circuit for their respective championships, which now finds only one round remaining for the North American series and two for USA West.
Zachary Vanier once again continued his dominance in the No. 206 Porsche, sweeping the overall 992 GT3 Cup races with MDK Motorsports. The podium results were mirrored on both Saturday and Sunday with Aidan Kenny and Kayden Kelly finishing second and third, respectively, amongst Pro/Am competitors, with Kelly taking the top honors in the USA West division.
“This one probably feels like one of the best of the season because of how much prep we put in for it,” said Vanier. “We were just trying to prepare for the heat and how the track evolution would change over 35 minutes plus one lap. I’m super happy, the race was great. We developed a very strong platform with testing on Thursday and Friday that was super promising. To see all of our hard work be rewarded is absolutely amazing.”
Madeline Stewart finished third twice in the PSCNA category this weekend, while New Zealander Will Wattanawongkiri and Kenton King – both making tremendous charges through the field – completed the PSCUW podiums on Saturday and Sunday alongside Blake McDonald.
Amongst the 992 GT3 Cup Am class, Peter Ludwig took home both victories in the No. 211 Porsche for Competition Motorsports, representing the PSCUW division and finishing fifth and sixth on the overall charts. Steve Dunn and Mark Kvamme swapped wins in the PSCNA Am class behind Ludwig.
Full 992 GT3 Cup results: Race 1 and Race 2.
In the 991 GT3 Cup class, Ashley Freiberg captured both overall victories, but not without a challenge from PSCUW competitor Casey Dennis. In both instances, Freiberg started second and pressured Dennis in the closing minutes, forcing him to go wide off track as she snuck by to win in the No. 122 Porsche.
With her two victories, and two runner-up finishes by teammate Dan Hanley, MDK Motorsports tallied four trophies this weekend in the 991 GT3 Cup class. Casey Dennis maintained the PSCUW win in both races in his No. 174 RWE Porsche.
Chloe Chambers and Nicholas Maloy traded wins in the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport class, which ran two races in addition to a make-up round this weekend at COTA.
While Maloy took charge in the opening laps to dominate Race 1 on Saturday, he valiantly fought door-to-door with Chambers for the Race 2 victory on Sunday, but finished second by just two tenths.
Chambers went on to win Race 3 as well after expertly making a pass on polesitter Paul Bocuse soon after the green flag. Both Bocuse and Maloy challenged her lead, going three-wide at one point, but Chambers held on for the win in the No. 70 TPC Racing Porsche. Maloy finished second, while third went to Bocuse who also podiumed on Saturday.
Michael Clark and Florian Eyme also collected podium finishes this weekend in the PSCNA Pro/Am class.
Jason Golan scored both Cayman GT4 Am class victories at COTA in the No. 80 Kelly Moss Porsche, even finishing third amongst all Caymans on Sunday.
Full 991 GT3 Cup / Cayman GT4 Clubsport results: Race 1 and Race 2.
Make-up Cayman GT4 Clubsport results: Race 3
Two races remain on the Porsche Sprint Challenge schedule, with USA West next having a standalone event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 8 – 10. A joint finale with both the North American and USA West series concludes the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 4 – 6.
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 X.
| 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 |
