Heinrich Wins Race 2; Thompson Crowned Champion

Laurin Heinrich controlled the second race of the weekend to win at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, while Parker Thompson clinched the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by The Cayman Islands Pro class title.

Heinrich started on pole and immediately opened up a gap to the rest of the field, which he would maintain to the checkered flag of the final 40-minute contest of the season.

Thompson, meanwhile, secured his first series championship in his No. 9 JDX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup after title rival and points-leader, Kay van Berlo retired from the race early on.

After the opening laps, van Berlo began to drop back in the field after starting the race in fifth position.

The Dutch driver later crawled to pit lane with fluid pouring out of his radiator. With his car retired, Thompson’s third place finish was enough to award him the Al Holbert Cup.

By the end of the race, Heinrich held an 8.855-second gap to the No. 53 Kelly-Moss Porsche of Riley Dickinson, who finished ahead of the newly crowned champion.

The drama at the start of the race extended to the Pro-Am class, as Alan Metni in his No. 99 Kelly-Moss entry went off the track at the top of the hill following contact on the opening lap.

Metni then dropped back to fifth in-class while defending Pro-Am champion, Efrin Castro inherited the class lead, and ultimately won his No. 65 Kelly-Moss racing machine.

Metni would go on to climb his way back up to third position in-class.

In the final few minutes of the race, the Texan held off pressure from the No. 17 ACI Motorsports car of Curt Swearingin to secure the Pro-Am class championship by a single point.

Mark Kvamme drove his No. 43 MDK Motorsports machine to both the championship title and victory lane after leading the Am class for every lap of the final round.

Bob Mueller and Race 1 winner John Goetz rounded out the Am class podium.

RESULTS: Race 2