From slick conditions on Saturday to wet conditions on Sunday, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama competitors experienced varying racetrack dynamics at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
In the series’ penultimate round of the season, two of four classes featured repeat winners, but the victories did not come easily.
Four different winners in 992 GT3 Cup action
The Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Pro-Am class had wins split between Brannan Hankins in Race 1 and Josh Conley in Race 2.
Hankins with Loftus Motorsports started from the pole position on Saturday, but after a poor start, had to rework his way back to the top spot, which he did by Lap 16.
In the meantime, Jake Chu – making his series debut with BR Racing – led laps en route to a second-place finish ahead of Daniel Hanley in third.
On Sunday, Conley rocketed to the top after starting fifth in class, also with BR Racing and in his first outing with Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West after contesting the sister North America series.
The battle then ensued behind Conley as Mark Wilgus finished second by less than two-tenths ahead of Hanley again in third.
Hankins sadly suffered a spin on the formation lap and had to start from the back of the pack, but fought back to finish fourth in class.
The 992 GT3 Cup Masters category was also split between championship leader Scott Blind and last year’s Porsche Carrera Cup North America Masters champion, Chris Bellomo, entered with CHR.
Blind passed Bellomo for the lead early in Saturday’s contest in his Ruckus Racing Porsche, while Bellomo stole the lead from Blind in Race 2 with less than two minutes remaining.
Jim Walsh completed the podium on Saturday, while Matt Dusek – also in his Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West debut – finished second on Sunday ahead of Blind in third.
Cecchi clan the fast family in Cayman class
In a captivating story, the father-daughter pair of Greg and Anna Cecchi tried their hand at Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and both drivers were victorious across both days in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Masters and Pro-Am classes, respectively.
It was the first Porsche Sprint Challenge win of Anna’s career. It came one week after the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program and Porsche EBOOST Junior Program racer attended the Porsche Motorsport North America annual workshop at Porsche Team Penske last week.
Her father, Greg was previously victorious at Sonoma Raceway in April running in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America. Anna is currently second in the North America 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Pro-Am standings, while Greg is fifth in the Masters class.
In second place behind the younger Cecchi was Jack Parriott, who maintains his championship lead as part of a full-season effort.
In the Masters class, Tim Smith and Greg Herback followed the elder Cecchi in Race 1, while the two drivers swapped places to complete the Race 2 podium on Sunday.
Only one event remains for Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama, as the finale is scheduled for Road Atlanta on September 12 – 14.
Meanwhile, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama returns to action in two weeks time at Road America from August 8 – 10.
Race replays throughout the season are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.
992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
- #295 Brannan Hankins
- #298 Jake Chu
- #243 Daniel Hanley
Masters
- #245 Scott Blind
- #286 Chris Bellomo
- #269 Jim Walsh
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
- #27 Anna Cecchi
- #73 Jack Parriott
Masters
- #72 Greg Cecchi
- #70 Tim Smith
- #49 Greg Herback
992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
- #299 Josh Conley
- #250 Mark Wilgus
- #243 Daniel Hanley
Masters
- #286 Chris Bellomo
- #251 Matt Dusek
- #245 Scott Blind
718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
- #27 Anna Cecchi
- #73 Jack Parriott
Masters
- #72 Greg Cecchi
- #49 Greg Herback
- #70 Tim Smith
Full results from all sessions can be found here.
All photos can be found here.
