Root Scores First GT3 Cup Challenge USA Win at VIR

Max Root made his first visit to the top step of the podium in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competition on Saturday, winning the weekend’s first race at Virginia International Raceway.

Root took his No. 7 Wright Motorsports car to a 36-second lead over points leader Roman De Angelis.

He managed to chase down De Angelis, who started the race from the pole position and held the lead from the drop of the green flag, with just over three minutes remaining.

“It was an amazing race,” Root said. “Those were interesting conditions, something we could have never predicted, but we made those Yokohamas go as far as they could.

“Driving on a dry/wet track with wet tires was interesting. I couldn’t have done it without the Wright Motorsports guys and all my sponsors.”

With the runner-up result, De Angelis still holds a comfortable 65-point lead, 379-314, over Root in the season championship standings in the Platinum Cup class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Cars built between 2017 and 2019.

De Angelis now has finished either first or second in all 11 races to date this year.

Fred Poordad made it two Wright Motorsports entries on the overall podium in the No. 20 Porsche and took the class victory in the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 years of age or over.

Poordad – who also won a race here at VIR last year – also earned the race’s Yokohama Hard Charger Award as the Platinum Cup driver who improved the most positions from start to finish. He started 15th on the overall grid.

Jeff Mosing finished second in Platinum Masters and fourth overall in the No. 68 Topp Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machine.

Alan Metni finished third in the Platinum Masters class in the No. 99 AM Motorsports/Kelly-Moss Porsche and now leads the class point standings by 21 points, 348-327, over Poordad.

Rob Ferriol drove the No. 5 Moorespeed entry to his second career victory in the Gold Cup class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup machines built between 2014 and 2016.

Ferriol took the lead when class points leader Sebastian Carazo spun in the Oak Tree Turn with just under 17 minutes remaining in the race.

Ferriol then held off Carazo – especially through an intense final lap – to win by 0.365 seconds.

Carazo ended up second and continues to lead the Gold Cup standings by 38 points, 371-333, over Ferriol. Efrin Castro finished third in Gold Cup aboard the No. 65 ACI Motorsports Porsche.

Race 2 of the weekend at VIR goes off at 9:45 a.m. ET Sunday and will be streamed live on IMSA.tv. NBCSN will televise this weekend’s action at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 6.

RESULTS: Race 1