Staut, Koch Shine in Barber Sprint Challenge Weekend

Fifteen-year-old Belgian phenom Karel Staut (GT3 Cup) and rising American Ford Koch (Cayman), a late substitute for his father, stole the spotlight at Barber Motorsports Park during round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama.

Supporting the annual Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix – a returning stop on the Sprint Challenge calendar for 2006 – both drivers and their respective Porsche 992 GT3 Cup and 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport classes pulled out stunning performances for the large Alabama crowd at Barber.

Fourth consecutive GT3 Cup win for Belgian rookie, Scalzo and Boden on top in Masters.

Belgian up-and-comer Staut made his Sprint Challenge North America debut only earlier this month, but has quickly become the one-to-beat with four GT3 Cup Pro-Am wins in as many races.

The Kellymoss rookie started from pole position in both rounds at Barber and benefited from fierce battles behind him to build healthy leads over the field.

Despite a restart in Race 2 on Sunday, Staut was untouchable en route to his second weekend sweep. He finished 15 seconds ahead of his competition in Race 1 and six seconds ahead in Race 2.

Another series newcomer followed Kraut in second place – Porsche Carrera Cup Australia racer Lockie Bloxsom.

It was Bloxsom’s North American debut in Sprint Challenge, and the Aussie finished ahead of Blake McGovern on Saturday and Sunday.

The two enjoyed spirited side-by-side battles throughout both contests, and for McGovern, it was his first time on the podium since joining the series this season.

Meanwhile, the GT3 Cup Masters class featured a graduating Cayman champion and another racer celebrating his birthday on the podium.

Scalzo, the 2025 Sprint Challenge North America Cayman Masters champion, climbed the ranks from fifth to first within the opening 10 minutes of the race in the opening race. It was his first win since last year’s penultimate Cayman event at Watkins Glen International.

For Boden, his winless drought dated back further after narrowly missing first place in 2025 but still landing on the podium. However, the Fall-Line Motorsports driver celebrated his birthday in style by taking the Sunday win.

Scalzo was joined on the podium by Todd Treffert and Boden on Saturday, while Sunday’s race finished with Scalzo in second and Frank Vitiello in third.

First Sprint Challenge Cayman Wins for Koch, Cecchi; Peluchiwski Wins Race 2.

The Sprint Challenge 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport field was introduced to Ford Koch in qualifying at Barber, but by the end of Race 1, everyone in the paddock knew his name.

Koch’s opportunity to slide into a Kellymoss race car only presented itself earlier in the week, and the young driver missed practice sessions to attend his college classes. Koch stunned the field with an easy Race 1 Pro-Am class win, leading flag-to-flag, but Race 2 presented its challenges.

From the pole, Koch was overtaken by Cody Knight immediately in Turn 1, and a further misstep dropped him to fourth-in-class by the end of their first lap around the 2.38-mile circuit. However, Koch clawed back through the field to regain the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

While Saturday’s race ended under a full-course yellow, Koch finished with a lead of more than two seconds on Sunday.

Knight’s eventual runner-up finish on Sunday was an excellent rebound from the day prior. Contact with another car dropped him from a potential podium spot, but Knight’s leading laps in Race 2 would be the first of his Sprint Challenge career.

Behind Knight on Sunday was Anna Cecchi in third after she swept the opening two races at Sebring earlier this month. Cecchi also finished second on Saturday at Barber ahead of Keith Grant.

While Anna walked away with two trophies this weekend, her father scored an even better one of his own in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Masters class. With wins in Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West last season, Greg Cecchi reached the top step of the North American division for the first time in his career on Saturday.

The CHR driver was fortunate to have a Pro-Am car between him and his competitors for the entire race and even crossed the finish line third overall behind his daughter. Tom Rogers followed second-in-class with William Peluchiwski in third.

The Race 2 win went to Peluchiwski, making it a Cayman sweep for Kellymoss alongside Koch.

After tallying four wins in 2025, Sunday was Peluchiwski’s first in 2026 and it happened after the two Masters cars in front of him encountered early issues. Peluchiwski had the lead within five minutes and did not relinquish the position for the remainder of the race.

After a year away from Sprint Challenge, Jim Jonsin had one of his best performances in the series with a second-place result on Sunday behind Peluchiwski.

Greg Cecchi in third was eager to take the place from him after Saturday’s success, but Jonsin withstood the pressure to finish ahead by just over one second.

Westward Bound to Sonoma

Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama is back on track in two weeks at Sonoma Raceway.

The rounds on April 10-12 also doubles as the second Porsche Endurance Challenge North America event of the year, as well as round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.

All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America’s YouTube channel plus Facebook, LinkedIn, and X.

Results:

Race 1
GT3 Cup Pro-Am
1. Karel Staut No. 243
2. Lockie Bloxsom No. 233
3. Blake McGovern No. 240

GT3 Cup Masters
1. Alain Scalzo No. 222
2. Todd Treffert No. 214
3. Mark Boden No. 246

Cayman Pro-Am
1. Ford Koch No. 23
2. Anna Cecchi No. 27
3. Keith Grant No. 40

Cayman Masters
1. Greg Cecchi No. 72
2. Tom Rogers No. 44
3. William Peluchiwski No. 62

Race 2
GT3 Cup Pro-Am
1. Karel Staut No. 243
2. Lockie Bloxsom No. 233
3. Blake McGovern No. 240

GT3 Cup Masters
1. Mark Boden No. 246
2. Alain Scalzo No. 222
3. Frank Vitiello No. 248

Cayman Pro-Am
1. Ford Koch No. 23
2. Cody Knight No. 3
3. Anna Cecchi No. 27

Cayman Masters
1. William Peluchiwski No. 62
2. Jim Jonsin No. 88
3. Greg Cecchi No. 72