Baltas Wins Rain-Soaked, Red Flag-Impacted Montreal Race 1

Photo: Jessica Johnk/Porsche

Yves Baltas scored victory in a rain-soaked opening round of Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which was marred by a 20-minute red flag period and finish under yellow flag conditions.

Baltas claimed his first career win in the No. 15 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car after passing pole-sitter Loek Hartog on the opening green flag lap.

The 40-minute scheduled race started behind the safety car for one lap and was green for two laps until a full-course caution came out for deteriorating track conditions.

The red was then shown two laps later, which came to allow teams to switch on to wet weather Yokohama tires.

Despite efforts to restart proceedings, the race ended behind the safety car in the time-certain race.

Hartog was classified second, ahead of the No. 88 Baby Bull Racing Porsche of Michael Cooper in third, with Alex Sedgwick and Dan Clarke completing the top-five.

James Sofronas made a late pass on Moisey Uretsky to take the lead and eventual win in Pro-Am in his No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche.

Title contender Efrin Castro, who had an accident earlier in the weekend, made it out in a backup Kellymoss Porsche but was classified tenth in class, largely unable to make up any positions due to the lack of green flag running.

Masters class honors went to the ACI Motorsports Porsche of Matt Halcome, meanwhile.

Race 2 gets underway Sunday at 9:40 a.m. EDT with live coverage on PorscheCarreraCup.us, Peacock and IMSA.tv.

RESULTS: Race 1

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John