AVONDALE, La. (Sept. 12, 2017) – As the Porsche Club of America (PCA) Club Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy East series’ successful 2017 season is winding down, competitors are heading to Louisiana for its penultimate event.
Around 20 drivers are expected to compete on the 2.75-mile, 16-turn NOLA Motorsports Park track, located just 15 minutes from the historic French Quarter in New Orleans, as part of the PCA Mardi Gras Cup 2017 event hosted by the Mardi Gras and Whiskey Bay Regions of PCA.
Following an exciting weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) in early August, drivers are refreshed and hungry for additional, last-chance points before the series finale at Daytona International Speedway in late October.
After sweeping the sprint races and getting second place in the enduro at CTMP, NOLAsport’s Alejandro Galindo is just 10 points behind Autometrics Motorsports’ David Baum for second place in the Championship class. If Galindo can gain a few podiums at his home track this weekend, he could slide into that second-place spot. Meanwhile, Advanced Collision Inc. (ACI) Motorsports’ Curt Swearingin hangs on to the lead by more than 100 points.
In the series’ Masters class, which is for drivers 57 and older, Charlie Craig, representing the Connecticut Valley PCA Region in his No. 76 Autometrics Motorsports entry, continues to lead in points 160-137 over Kathy Mead. TOPP Racing’s David Walker, who shares a car with his son Russell, round out the Masters class in third – just 10 points behind Mead.
Series newcomer Richard McIntosh, who represents the Louisiana PCA Region, will be one to watch at NOLA Motorsports Park this weekend as well. The Scottish driver gained three Masters class podiums at his first race at CTMP last month in his No. 55 TOPP Racing entry.
NOLAsport’s John Crosby, who is currently sitting in fourth place in the Masters class, is the PCA Mardi Gras Cup event chair. He said his home track’s high-speed Turn 8 can reach 120 mph for most cars and it’s very challenging.
“This turn also sets up the entry to the esses, Turns 9 through 12,” Crosby said. “In this section of the track, it’s very difficult to pass, although very rewarding to the driver of a well-handled car.”
There will be three practice sessions Friday, Sept. 15, followed by two sprint races Saturday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. (CT) Saturday. The 80-minute enduro will start at 1:50 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17.
NOLA MOTORSPORTS PARK WEEKEND SCHEDULE
(All times local)
Friday, Sept. 15
9:30 a.m. Practice 1
1:30 p.m. Practice 2
3:30 p.m. Practice 3
Saturday, Sept. 16
9:40 a.m. Qualifying
11 a.m. Sprint Race 1 (30 minutes)
3 p.m. Sprint Race 2 (30 minutes)
Sunday, Sept. 17
1:50 p.m. Enduro Race (80 minutes)