Staut Shines at Soggy Sonoma After Battle With Bloxsom

Rain or shine – and anything in between – Karl Staut continues to be the one-to-beat in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama.

The Belgian driver delivered his third consecutive weekend sweep with Kellymoss in the GT3 Cup Pro-Am class, this time at Sonoma Raceway in mixed conditions that hung over competitors throughout the weekend.

Following a relatively smooth race on Friday, Staut faced his fiercest pressure yet on Saturday from Australian driver Lockie Bloxsom. The international duo weaved and dodged lapped traffic in the final ten minutes, and Bloxsom nearly threatened Staut’s winning streak, but ultimately was unsuccessful.

Bloxsom would settle for second in both races at Sonoma, just as he did during the last event at Barber Motorsport Park.

The Australian completed his two-race stint in Sprint Challenge with four podium finishes from four starts. He now heads back ‘down under’ to continue his Porsche Carrera Cup Australia campaign.

David Musial Jr. finished third in Race 1, his first outing since the season-opener at Sebring International Raceway in March, and Blake McGovern rounded out the podium in Race 2 for the third time this season.

After a long-awaited win came to Mark Boden at Barber, he doubled down with another 992 GT3 Cup Masters class win on Friday at Sonoma.

Boden avoided the race chaos en route to victory with Fall-Line Motorsports, and made great strides to close in on championship leader, Alain Scalzo, who finished third. Between the pair in second place was Kayden Kelly.

It was Kelly though in his series return with Throttle Therapy Motorsports who prevailed in Race 2. The California native saw fellow competitors endure solo spins throughout the race, and Kelly built a buffer of Pro-Am cars between him and the rest of the field.

Matt Dusek finished second for his best result of the season, and Boden leaves Sonoma with two trophies after finishing Race 2 in third.

RESULTS: Race 1/Race 2

Ruttura, Knight find top step alongside a Rogers Sweep in Cayman Classes

The Sonoma weather conditions truly became a great equalizer for the Sprint Challenge field of 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport cars – and delivered first-time winners throughout the weekend.

Todd Ruttura started third but finished first with Heinlein Racing Development, as he was one of the few to emerge unscathed from incidents or penalties. It was an impressive drive for Ruttura, who had yet to join the Pro-Am podium this year, let alone stand atop in first.

Zac Bradford – also running in the Sprint Challenge USA West series – finished second after a post-race time penalty was issued to Keith Grant who wound up third. Despite the setback, Grant pressed Ruttura in the closing laps of the race for a spirited class battle.

In Race 2, Cody Knight broke through for his elusive first win after coming just shy in the earlier rounds this season. Knight pushed the limits in a side-by-side battle with rival Anna Cecchi, and made the winning pass with small contact just halfway through the contest.

Both drivers struggled the day prior, so Knight’s victory with Topp Racing and Anna’s eventual runner-up result were both considered great rebound performances. Keith Grant followed with another third-place finish on Saturday as he also seeks to add his name to the first-time winner list during the later rounds this year.

With the excitement in the Pro-Am classes, Tom Rogers excelled in the Masters category to win both races on Friday and Saturday.

Running with Tatum Racing, Rogers even finished on the overall podium – second in Race 1 and third in Race 2 – to gain the championship lead after sitting third going into Sonoma.

The second-place spots were split between William Peluchiwski, taking the trophy in Race 1 and Dan Drohan in Race 2.

Simon Read – in his first Sprint Challenge North America appearance this season – finished third in both rounds, and braved the elements on Sunday for a slippery and fun duel trying to beat Drohan for runner-up.

RESULTS: Race 1/Race 2

Hankins Doubles Up in Wet, Wild Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West

Brannan Hankins withstood the elements at a wild and wild Sonoma to walk away with two Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama overall victories in the GT3 Cup Pro-Am class.

A field of Porsche 911 GT3 Cups and 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsports dared to test the track on Friday and Saturday – and even survived a downpour on the final lap of Race 2 to close out the weekend.

But with his victory, Hankins further extends the class championship lead he and his Loftus Motorsports team built from Rounds 1 and 2 at Apex Motor Club back in February.

Marc Crigler finished second behind Hankins at Sonoma, and remains in the season-long title hunt.

Similar to Hankins’ performance, Laura Ely captured both 992 GT3 Cup Masters victories in Northern California with Black Sheep Racing. Ely started first overall in Race 1 and then outside the front row of Race 2 en route to her wins.

Next to Ely on the podium was Henry Marshall in second place. The pair will continue their Masters’ class championship fight to Circuit of the Americas in May.

Of 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport drivers, Zac Bradford with ZRB Motorsports was the winner of both rounds at Sonoma in the Pro-Am class, and the Masters class victories were split between Greg Herback and Justin Lewis.

Herback, running with ACI Motorsports, led for the full duration of Race 1 and started Saturday’s race in the lead, but Lewis ascended into first after his competitor was brought through pit lane with 12 minutes on the clock.

The Lewis Racing team remains neck-in-neck with Herback for the Masters championship as the series approaches its halfway point of the season at COTA.

Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama heads to the Lone Star State for another stacked weekend on May 7 – 9. The COTA event will once again run alongside Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, and will also welcome Porsche GT Track Day for its first visit to the iconic Formula 1 venue.

RESULTS: Race 1/Race 2