Thompson Takes Controlling Race 1 Win at Road America

Photo: Porsche

Parker Thompson held off a challenge from Trenton Estep to return to victory lane in the opening Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by The Cayman Islands race at Road America.

Thompson, who inherited pole for Saturday’s race following the two Kelly-Moss Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars of Kay van Berlo and Riley Dickinson failed post-qualifying technical inspection, led all 15 laps of the 40-minute contest.

It marked the Canadian’s third victory of the season after sweeping the weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

Estep finished 1.094 seconds behind Thompson in second, with the No. 7 Kelly-Moss entry of Michael McCarthy completing the overall and Pro class podium.

Van Berlo, who started 31st on the grid, charged back to finish fourth, with Dickinson crossing the line in seventh in impressive recovery runs from both drivers.

An accident by Dominique Lequeux in the No. 30 Goldcrest Motorsports Porsche at the Kink saw nearly half of the 40-minute contest run behind the safety car.

The race restarted with 14 minutes left on the clock, which saw Thompson increase his lead through the closing laps.

Pro-Am class honors went to the No. 85 Mark Motors Porsche of Marco Cirone following a late-race battle with Alan Metni in the No. 99 Kelly-Moss entry.

Mark Kvamme, meanwhile, picked up another class win in the Am class aboard his No. 43 MDK Motorsports Porsche.

Race 2 gets underway Sunday at 8:20 a.m. CT (9:20 a.m. ET) with live coverage on Peacock, PorscheCarreraCup.us and IMSA Radio.

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