CORRECTION FROM SOURCE: J-F Laberge Takes a Weekend Doubleheader as Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin Begins Second Season
The fastest growing single-make series in North America sees series rookie win both Saturday and Sunday races in the Victoria Day weekend race event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
(firmenpresse) - MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 05/21/12 -- This document corrects and replaces the press release that was sent today, at 9:00 AM EST.
Editors Note: A photo for this release will be available on the CP picture wire via Marketwire.
As the first race weekend of the 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin came to a close, two facts were made perfectly clear: there are new names and faces to be reckoned with and there are old ones as well. While Jean-Frederic Laberge, who is new to the series this year, won both on Saturday and Sunday, he was surrounded by familiar names from last year's series like defending champion Perry Bortolotti and the ultra quick Marco Cirone.
"This was a spectacular weekend for Canadian Motorsports," observed Joe Lawrence, President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd (PCC). "It was another exciting day of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge racing - close, hard-fought, but clean. It was amazing to watch 21 cars take the green flag today, which represents a four-fold growth in just one season."
"We had a great crowd come out, especially on Sunday, said Laurance Yap, Porsche's Manager of Marketing for PCC. "And most of all, we can't say enough about what the new track management has done to improve Mosport International. After all they did it had to be renamed and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park deserves part of the credit. This track can now re-take its place among the legendary tracks of the motorsports world."
Race One - Saturday, May 19th
As part of the festivities, David Deacon, former President and CEO of Porsche Cars Canada, and the founding father of Porsche single make racing in the 1980's enthusiastically sent the field on its way as the honorary starter.
When that first green flag of the season dropped, the race for the points began between five drivers; Jean-Frederic Laberge, Etienne Borgeat, Perry Bortolotti, Marco Cirone and Carlos de Quesada.
The five-way battle went on for most of the race with one driver or another alternately pushing hard or falling slightly back to conserving their tires for a last push for the front. For most of the race, the top five Platinum class cars were covered by two seconds.
But various different problems dropped both Marco Cirone and Carlos de Quesada down the scoring charts and out of contention for the Platinum class crown.
The races in both the Gold and Silver classes were also hotly contested, with the outcome only certain a handful of laps from the end.
Top Three Finishers by Class
As he has competed in the American LeMans Series' LMPC class, Canadian professional driver, Kyle Marcelli, was the on-track leader for the entire race. Sponsored by Pfaff Automotive Partners of Toronto, Marcelli is running in the series on a non-points basis in order to build up his racing resume, and to gauge his abilities with fellow drivers in identical cars.
Race Two - Sunday, May 20th
Sunday produced another huge crowd at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park who once again were treated to excellent racing throughout the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin pack.
Throughout the entire race, the Platinum class battle for the lead was covered by six seconds. In the end, Jean-Frederic Laberge took a second win by 4.1 second over second place finisher Carlos de Quesada who in turn beat out third place finisher and former GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin race winner, Marco Cirone. First race runner-up Etienne Borgeat lead a large chunk of the race, only to have used up his Michelin tires in his efforts to stay ahead of his Platinum class competitors.
Top Thee Finishers by Class
Once again, Kyle Marcelli used his ALMS prototype experience to pull out to a 16.895 second lead by the end of the race. It wasn't easy for Marcelli however, as he and Jean-Frederic Laberge passed the overall lead back and forth for the first three laps, before settling in for the remainder of the race.
Designed to develop new drivers and prepare them for competition in the American Le Mans Series, Porsche Cars Canada Ltd, in partnership with Porsche Motorsport North America and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), entered into a two-year agreement for the 20th GT3 Cup Challenge Series in the world.
The inaugural 2011 season consisted of six races and produced some of the best sports car competition Canada had seen in many a year. When the dust settled after the season's final race, Perry Bortolotti, Shaun McKaigue and Bob Seitz won their respective Platinum, Gold and Silver class Championships.
With Michelin, one of Porsche's global technology partners, coming on-board as a sponsor, the series has gathered a considerable momentum heading in to the new season.
Additional information, including a downloadable schedule and competitor regulations, are available at . The next race for the Canadian competitors takes place at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in conjunction with the Canadian Grand Prix on June 10th.
The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin features semi-professional drivers racing head to head in the largest single-make series in the world. Powered by one of the world's most successful race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, the multi-class structure of the series teaches drivers essential skills for an eventual career in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron.
Contacts:
Porsche Cars Canada
Patrick Saint-Pierre
Manager, Public Relations
(647) 531-2992
Porsche Cars Canada
Fred Hammond
Series Public Relations
201-341-1112
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Datum: 21.05.2012 - 12:46 Uhr
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