RS1 Porsche Takes Strategic CTMP Win

RS1 made use of a one-stop strategy to end a lengthy IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge win drought and take victory in the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120.

The No. 28 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS, driven by Stevan McAleer and Trent Hindman, crossed the line 2.537 seconds clear of the No. 19 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 during Saturday’s two-hour race at the Canadian circuit.

Hindman and Scott Andrews were at the head of a group of five cars that elected not to come in for a second fuel stop during the race’s second Full Course Yellow.

That caution came when the No. 22 TWOth Autosport Porsche of Justin Di Benedetto stopped on track exiting Moss Corner with 56 minutes to go.

Up until that point, the battle for the overall lead of the race had been a duel between the No. 50 Hattori Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo and the No. 69 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4.

However, both Jaden Conwright and Jesse Lazare pitted under caution to take on extra fuel, allowing third-placed Hindman to jump to the lead.

The No. 28 Porsche was subsequently able to retain the lead and make it to the checkered flag without needing another stop, giving RS1 its first win since the 2022 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Andrews and Rory van der Steur finished second, with the No. 46 Team TGM Aston Martin of Matt Plumb and Paul Holton completing the podium.

The No. 39 CarBahn Motorsports BMW M4 GT4 crossed the line in fourth, with the No. 96 Turner Motorsport machine of Francis Selldorff and Robby Foley in fifth place.

Conwright recovered to sixth place in the No. 50 Toyota he shared with Jack Hawksworth, ahead of the No. 88 Archangel Motorsports Aston Martin piloted by Todd Coleman and Aaron Telitz.

Rebel Rock Racing, the No. 69 MIA McLaren and the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 completed the overall top ten.

Wickens Returns to TCR Victory Lane for First Time Since 2022

In the TCR category, Robert Wickens took his first Pilot Challenge victory since 2022 after mechanical failure for Unitronic/JDC-Miller Motorsports curtailed a hard-fought battle for class honors.

Wickens and Harry Gottsacker, sharing the No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR, took the class win by a margin of 0.723 seconds over the No. 93 Montreal Motorsports Group Honda Civic FL5 TCR.

The No. 33 Hyundai was running second behind the No. 17 Audi RS3 LMS TCR of Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor when Taylor slowed and pulled off the track with under half an hour to go.

The two cars had repeatedly traded first place back and forth until the No. 17 car’s stoppage, which reportedly came as a result of a loss of drive for Taylor.

Wickens subsequently withstood pressure from Karl Wittmer to take his first Pilot Challenge win in two years, with his last victory also coming at CTMP in 2022.

Preston Brown and Denis Dupont finished third in the No. 76 Hyundai to complete the class podium.

RESULTS: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120