Porscheplatz 2016 –  IMSA’s Canadian Race

Porsche Factory Drivers Visit Porscheplatz at CTMP

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Left to right: Bodymotion Racing: Moderator with Devin Jones (#31 Cayman in ST Class), Trent Hindman (#12 Cayman GT4 Clubsport in GS Class), Cameron Cassels (#12 Cayman GT4 Clubsport in GS Class), Jason Rabe (#31 Cayman ST Class)

Story and Pictures by Kathleen Wong, UCR Vice President (from Provinz, September 2016 page 14)

The International Motor Sports Association (“IMSA”) has a 12-race schedule for the 2016 season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.  Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (“CTMP”) hosted the only Canadian race on July 9th and 10th. It was also the venue for one of the six Porscheplatz that Porsche Cars North America (“PCNA”) is organizing in 2016.

Porscheplatz is a car corral organized by IMSA and PCNA. The admission ticket price was $115.00 and it included priority parking exclusively for Porsche cars; access to the Porsche hospitality tent overlooking the apex at Corner 1; raffle for IMSA hot pit experience; sign up for paddock tour with unrestricted views of the cars, garages, mechanics and drivers; a chance to drive your own Porsche at CTMP Grand Prix track in a parade lap on Sunday; Saturday lunch, and Sunday BBQ lunch plus draw prizes. There was also live closed circuit TV broadcasting of the races in the hospitality tent. The highlight of the Porscheplatz at CTMP was the “Meet ‘n Greet” with two Porsche Cayman GT4 Teams – Bodymotion Racing and CJ Wilson Racing, and four Porsche Factory Drivers of Porsche 911 RSR cars #911 and #912.

The majority of the 100+ participants at the Porscheplatz were UCR members. We also had representatives from IMSA, Porsche Cars North America (“PCNA”) and  Porsche Cars Canada (“PCC”) such as Diezel Lodder (IMSA), Tiffany Lodder (IMSA), Paul Gregor (Manager, Porsche Clubs North America), Margareta Mahlstedt (Director of Marketing, PCC) and Kathrin Menge (Cus­tomer Relations Manager, PCC).

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Lynn Friedman, Porscheplatz Coordinator and PCA Zone 5 Representative (Photo Courtesy of Matthew Lam)

Lynn Friedman (PCA Zone 5 representative) led the Porscheplatz volunteer team which was comprised of the following UCR members: Mike Bryan (President), Terry Cassan, Randy Gananathan (Provinz Editor), Matthew Lam, Walter Murray (Past President), Gregory Sachs (Director), Ken Jensen (Past President and Webmaster), David Walker, John Van Atter (Past President), Pat Van Atter, Kathleen Wong (VP), Ted Youngs (2015 Enthu­siast of the Year) and Foster Zanutto (UCR Secretary). Most of these volunteers worked at the registration desk inside the Porsche hospitality tent and directed traffic/ parking at the Porsche Corral. Manny Alban (PCA Na­tional Past President) was also present at the event.

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Bodymotion Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport #12

The two major races of the weekend included: a two-and-a-half-hour Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race; and a two-hour and 40-minute Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix race.

The Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge took place on Saturday July 9th and it had a total of 33 entries with six entries in the Grand Sport Class and 27 entries in the Street Tuner Class:

1) Grand Sport (GS) allows American iron such as the Ford Shelby GT350R/C to battle with exotic international machines, such as the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Van­tage. GS cars are tuned to produce between 400 and 460 horsepower, featuring speeds in excess of 250 km/h; and

2) Street Tuner (ST) includes the Audi S3, Honda Civic Si, Porsche Cayman, BMW 328i and 228i, Mazda MX-5 and MINI John Cooper Works.  ST cars are limited to four-and six-cylinder engines and rotaries, producing between 230 and 290 horsepower. The top speed for this class is 216 km/h.

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Left to right: Walter Murray (UCR Past President), Manny Alban (PCA National Past President), Mike Bryan (UCR President)

CJ Wilson Racing #33 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport of Daniel Burkett and Marc Miller finished second in the GS Class and second overall at the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race on Saturday July 9th. The best lap time of #33 was 1.28.536. The Bodymotion Racing #12 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport of Cameron Cassels and Trent Hindman finished fourth in the GS Class and fourth overall. The best lap time of #12 was 1.28.663. The sister car, #31 2012 Porsche Cayman that Jason Rabe and Devin Jones drove, finished ninth in the ST class and 13th overall.

The Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix took place on Sunday July 10th and it had a total of 39 entries spread across four classes: eight cars (P), seven cars (PC), nine cars (GTLM) and 15 cars (GTD).

  1. Prototype (P) This class features the most technologi­cally advanced sports cars in North America, which are capable of speeds approaching 320 km/h. The cars compet­ing in this class are Corvette DP, DeltaWing DWC13-Elan, HPED ARX-03b, Ligier JS P2, Mazda Prototype
  2. Prototype Challenge (PC) This class features open top race cars and technology such as carbon fiber chassis, carbon brakes and a sequential gearbox. The cars compet­ing in this class are ORECA FLM00-Chevrolet.
  3. GT Le Mans (GTLM) Utilizing the same technical regulations as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the GTLM cars are the most elite and fastest GT cars on the track. The cars competing in this class are BMW M6, Corvette C7.R, Ferrari 488, Ford GT and Porsche 911 RSR. The #911 and #912 Porsche Factory Drivers of Porsche 911 RSR com­peted in this class.
  4. GT Daytona (GTD) This class utilizes the global FIA-GT3 Specification. The cars competing in this class are Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Audi R8 LMS GT3, BMW M6 GT3, Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, Porsche 911 GT3-R, SRT Viper GT3-R.
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Porsche Factory Drivers Patrick Pilet (911 RSR #911), Earl Bamber (911 RSR #912), Frédéric Makowiecki (911RSR #912) and Nick Tandy (911RSR #911)
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Moderator with CJ Wilson Racing’s Daniel Burkett and Marc Miller, #33 in GS Class

 

Porsche factory drivers Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France) of #912 Porsche 911 RSR finished sixth in the GTLM class and 20th overall at the Mobil 1 Sportscar Grand Prix race on Sunday July 10th. Porsche factory drivers Patrick Pilet (France) and Nick Tandy (England) of #911 Porsche 911 RSR finished eighth in the GTLM class and 22nd overall.

The success at Porscheplatz was supported by a group of dedicated UCR volunteers. Our sincere thanks to every one of the Porscheplatz volunteer team and special thanks to Lynn Friedman and John Van Atter for leading the volun­teer team and delivering a truly memorable experience for all participants.

 

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