Info: Greg Franz 949.851.4731
gfranz@competentms.com
Newport Beach, CA.
September 28, 2010
Newport Beach, CA, September 28, 2010 – Pirelli Drivers Cup USA, featuring Porsche 996 and 997 GT3 Cup Cars, is a racing series dedicated to providing a safe racing environment for all participants where on race weekends drivers compete on challenging venues and as with yacht racing this past weekend showed how local knowledge along with good driving wins races.
The venue this last weekend (September 24th-26th) was Miller Motorsports Park Raceway, as part of the Porsche Club of America event, located outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Pirelli Drivers Cup USA series brought along beautiful weather for the event that was enjoyed by everyone present. This event represented both Race #7 and Race #8 of the twelve (12) race series for the 2010 season. Six newcomers who had never raced with the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA racing series participated and made their statement on the track that they were not going to allow the series regulars own the podium at the end of the day.
Local knowledge of a race track is always a big plus for any driver and with local knowledge from Melanie Snow, Ricky Johnson, Dave Leyvas, and Madison Snow, the first timers were able to get the inside story on how to best drive the track and understand its nuances.
The long full course at Miller Motorsports Park (4.486 miles) provides a level playing field for both the Porsche 996 and 997 GT3 Cup Cars as the aero package, horsepower, and gearing are per factory specifications requiring the drivers to make the difference.
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon for Race #7 had the entire field within eight seconds with Porsche 996 and 997 GT3 Cup cars, with Melanie Snow (Snow Racing) on pole with Steve Goldman (Competition Motorsports) on the first row, with Doug Baron leading the Group A 996 GT3 Cup cars in the fourth slot.
On Saturday afternoon, Race #7 lived up to its expectations and gave everyone an exciting race to watch as three drivers including Snow, Goldman, and Brent Holden (GMG Racing) went three wide into Turn 1 of 23 turns on the full course. As always, racing was found through out the pack as every 996/997 GT3 Cup car was racing both in group and overall with the other determined racers on the track. Group A brought both Doug Baron (911 Design) and Jim Walsh (Jim Walsh Racing), our series leader back together after Doug’s mechanical at Portland in June. The other drivers in the Group A field were not going to give up easily. Newcomer to the series, Ricky Johnson (Race Technik) brought home second place with John Trefethen (Trefethen Vineyards) finishing third. Jim Walsh had a racing incident that ended his run for a podium in this race.
Group B (2006-2009 997 GT3 Cup Car) had a number of first time 2010 season drivers testing each other and the track to find how to pull a victory out from a very competitive group. At the end Melanie Snow stayed in front of Steve Goldman with Blair Chang (Competition Motorsports) to finish out the podium. Melanie reached her personal best time for the full course and was the overall winner for Race #7 as the home court advantage played out.
Group C (2010 997 GT3 Cup) had Brent Holden winning his group after running back and forth with Melanie for most of the race.
With six and one half hours of track time for the drivers of the Pirelli Drivers Cup USA racing series during the event weekend; Sunday with perfect weather and no wind would bring out the best in cars and drivers. Morning practice got the field ready for the qualifying session for Race #8 when the entire field was just less than seven seconds between pole sitter and the rest. The results of qualifying had Melanie Snow again on pole with Brent Holden second, and Steve Goldman third. Doug Baron lined up next to Jim Walsh on the grid, so you knew that there was going to be plenty of racing going throughout entire field for this race.
With the drop of the green flag, Race # 8 started out with a dash to Turn 1, with Brent Holden’s Group C (2010 997 GT3 Cup) showing why Porsche has been so pleased with the results of this race car this season in all the racing series they participate throughout the globe. With the 45 minute race format for Pirelli Drivers Cup one needs to pace themselves and plan their strategy to achieve the result they want and not make any mistakes. Melanie, driving in Group B, won with her best time on the full course and again the overall Race # 8 winner, with Steve Goldman repeating his second place finish from Race #7, and third place went to Madison Snow (in his first Pirelli Drivers Cup and Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car race) with a very proud and rightfully so, Mother and Father (Martin) looking on.
In Group A, Jim Walsh succumbed to Doug Baron as he suffered a flat tire and broken axle that ended a contest everyone was looking forward to seeing. Doug Baron drove a hard race and was able to keep Greg Ross (Greg Ross Racing) and Ricky Johnson from coming up on him. Steve Streimer (Steve Streimer Racing), racing his first event with Pirelli Drivers Cup, found these racers require you bring your best driving to the track for every race.
Group C, had Brent Holden victorious and also the fastest time in the race of 2:57.5. Holden is looking forward to the 2010 997 GT3 Cup car turn out at Laguna Seca in three weeks.
The Pirelli Drivers Cup USA racing series is now into the 2nd half of the 2010 season with drivers figuring out what they need to do to achieve a Championship in the Series. The remaining venues and dates are:
Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway – October 22 – 24, 2010 (Unlimited Decibels) Infineon Raceway – November 5 – 7, 2010.
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