COTA Ignites With 90+ Entries in Sprint Challenge Weekend

The Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama class championships are beginning to take shape following the third event at Circuit of The Americas this past weekend in Austin.

With 90-plus entries across Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America – the COTA paddock was packed with Porsche power.

After two races under the hot Texas sun in the North American series, the 992 GT3 Cup field – 30 deep in both instances – showcased brewing rivalries and set up excitement for the remaining four rounds to come.

Kleck, Blind Solidify Front-Runner Status with Double Victories

Between the 992 GT3 Cup veteran versus the rookie, the latter prevailed, but not with ease. Cole Kleck, along with his Topp Racing team, added another two victories to his total, leaving COTA with five wins so far this season as the series approaches its halfway point at the next event.

Kleck and Alan Metni chased each other around the Texas circuit throughout the weekend, with Metni leading at various points or otherwise running right against Kleck’s bumper.

However, the Texas native was unable to cross the finish line first, but tallied two runner-up results on the weekend in the Pro-Am class.

Therese Lahlouh had one of her most successful weekends in Sprint Challenge that ended with a third-place finish in Race 2. She was within striking distance of a podium in Race 1 as well, but was overtaken shortly after the green flag by fellow Pro-Am competitor, Tony Malito, for the spot.

In the 992 GT3 Cup Masters category, Scott Blind was once again victorious – for the third and fourth times this season – but was challenged by Kayden Kelly in both efforts. Blind only secured the lead from Kelly with 15 minutes remaining in Race 1 and was fortunate to start first in Race 2 and maintain the position.

Kelly, meanwhile, left COTA with two second-place finishes after a victory in the most recent round at Sonoma Raceway, while John Gilliland and David Williams split the final podium trophies between the two races at COTA.

Hantson Beats the Heat for Cayman Weekend Sweep

Jens Hantson not only beat the heat at COTA, but also withstood the pressure from the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport field. The class championship leader did both en route to a double victory with the Speedsport Tuning team.

In a misty Race 1, Hantson passed polesitter and Masters driver Alain Scalzo for the overall lead in the opening minutes to allow a gap between himself and the remaining Pro-Am class field. Loni Unser made the same maneuver past Scalzo and set her sights on the win, but pulled off track in the closing minutes with an issue that led to a race-ending yellow flag.

Anna Cecchi finished second as a result – her best of the season – with Erika Hoffman in third.

Unser returned to the track with a vengeance in Race 2 and loomed large in Hantson’s mirror as the minutes wound down. A passing opportunity didn’t present itself to her, but Unser finished runner-up by just 0.270 seconds.

Anna Cecchi finished the weekend with a double podium by rounding out Race 2 in third.

In the Masters class, Scalzo not only started first overall, but he maintained first-in-class for the Race 1 win over Will Peluchiwski and Tom Kopczynski.

Daniel Ammann was the class polesitter for Race 2, and Peluchiwski used the inside of Turn 12 to move past for the lead and eventual win. It was Peluchiwski’s first win of the season after forgoing the rounds at Sonoma Raceway in April, and only being able to participate in the first race at Sebring International Raceway in March.

Class points leader, Scalzo, finished second, while polesitter Ammann held on for third place.

The next round of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama is set for Virginia International Raceway in nearly two months’ time on July 11 – 13. Race replays throughout the season are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.

992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 210 Cole Kleck
No. 298 Alan Metni
No. 203 Tony Malito

Masters
No. 245 Scott Blind
No. 208 Kayden Kelly
No. 208 John Gilliland

992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 211 Cole Kleck
No. 298 Alan Metni
No. 242 Therese Lahlouh

Masters
No 245 Scott Blind
No. 208 Kayden Kelly
No .237 David Williams

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 12 Jens Hantson
No. 27 Anna Cecchi
No. 21 Erika Hoffmann

Masters
No. 26 Alain Scalzo
No. 62 William Peluchiwski
No. 52 Tom Kopczynski

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 12 Jens Hantson
No. 4 Loni Unser
No. 27 Anna Cecchi

Masters
No. 62 William Peluchiwski
No. 26 Alain Scalzo
No. 91 Daniel Ammann.

Blind Unstoppable for Double Overall Victory in Sprint Challenge USA West

While competing in the 992 GT3 Cup Masters category, Scott Blind dominated the USA West field in both instances at COTA. The Ruckus Racing driver started from the pole position and hit his marks en route to his second and third wins of the championship.

Fellow Masters driver Jim Walsh posed an initial threat to Blind’s lead at the start of the races, but settled back to fight with the top Pro-Am competitors and to finish second in Race 2. A last-lap spin in Race 1 demoted Walsh to fourth-in-class behind Francisco De Jesus. Joel Johnson finished second on Saturday and third on Sunday to complete the class podiums.

While Blind set sail, attention turned to the entertaining multi-car battle of 992 GT3 Cup Pro-Am competitors. Three contenders – Daniel Hanley, Mark Wilgus and Brannan Hankins – were constantly rotating the top three positions in both races, with Hanley coming out on top in Race 1 and Wilgus first in Race 2.

Hanley took victory after Hankins slid off course trying to pass Walsh in the closing minutes. Meanwhile, Wilgus’ efforts were rewarded after setting up a perfect pass on Hanley with six minutes remaining through Turns 12 to 15.

While Hanley and Wilgus finished in the top three of both races, Mark Crigler joined them on the podium in Race 1 and Hankins did the same in Race 2.

Rogers Reigns Supreme in Cayman Category

In the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsports class, the weekend fully belonged to Tom Rogers for the first time in 2025. The Masters driver faced the most competitors versus other classes, but held off each of them for a sweep at COTA.

Rogers previously split weekend victories with Tim Smith at Sonoma Raceway last month, and Smith secured a third-place finish in Texas on Sunday. Otherwise, Greg Herback crossed the finish line second behind Rogers in both races, while the final podium spot on Sunday went to Gary Bufkin in his racing debut.

In the Cayman Pro-Am category, Emanuel Tartaglione gained valuable track time and ran cleanly to celebrate two class wins.

Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West only has days to rest before competing again, this time at Burt Brothers Motorpark. The Round 4 doubleheader is scheduled for May 30-June 1. Race replays throughout the season are available on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel.

992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 243 Daniel Hanley
No. 204 Mark Crigler
No. 250 Mark Wilgus

Masters
No. 245 Scott Blind
No. 217 Joel Johnson
No. 221 Francisco De Jesus

992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 250 Mark Wilgus
No. 295 Brannan Hankins
No. 243 Daniel Hanley

Masters
No.245 Scott Blind
No. 269 Jim Walsh
No. 217 Joel Johnson

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 59 Emanuel Tartaglione

Masters
No. 44 Tom Rogers
No. 49 Greg Herback
No. 51 Gary Bufkin

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium

Pro-Am
No. 59 Emanuel Tartaglione

Masters
No. 44 Tom Rogers
No. 49 Greg Herback
No. 70 Tim Smith