Priaulx Quickest in Opening Day of Sebring Pre-Season Test

Sebastian Priaulx was quickest in the opening day of a two-day pre-season test for Porsche Carrera Cup North America competitors at Sebring International Raceway on Monday.

The 20-year-old set a best time of 2:00.870 in his Kelly-Moss Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to go more than a half-second quicker than teammate Kay van Berlo.

Riley Dickinson was third quickest in his Team Hardpoint-EBM entry in Day 1 of testing.

In total, 28 Porsche-built race cars turned in preparation for the March 18-19 series debut, including 19 new-generation Type-992 models that combined for a total of 420 laps over the day.

Earmarked as the top contender in Porsche one-make race series around the world, North American entrants received the first 23 examples of the 2021-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars produced last month.

Ten of the 4.0 liter, naturally aspirated flat-six engine-powered machine were entered in the Pro class while an additional nine were represented in the Pro-Am class.

The top four best times on Monday were turned in Pro entries with Leh Keen making his competition return turning a 2:03.647 in the No. 311RS Motorsports Porsche.

Three additional Pro class cars are expected to turn their first laps on Tuesday with two of the new cars not present for the first test.

Alan Metni broke into the top-five overall with the quickest Pro-Am lap in the No. 99 Kelly-Moss Road & Race Porsche with Efrin Castro second in class and tenth overall in his Hardpoint-EBM entry.

Nine previous generation Tye-991.2  cars also took part in preparation for the season opener, with Goldcrest Motorsports’ Matt Halcome quickest in the Pro-Am 991 class.

“We could not be more pleased with how the first day of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America went,” said Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO Dr. Daniel Armbruster. “It is testimony to the PMNA team.

“Additionally, the customer debut of the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car was equally successful.

“The cars were immediately fast and the teams and drivers showed how professional they are by finding speed right from the start.

“We still have one full day of testing and I expect each team will leave fully ready to make the car’s competition premiere here next week.

“We have every expectation that Porsche Carrera Cup North America will prove equal to any Carrera Cup around the world.”