Parker Thompson On The Podium Twice In CARRERA CUP Opener At Sebring

Parker Thompson On The Podium Twice In CARRERA CUP Opener At Sebring

Parker Thompson Racing Release:

Forty-three Porsche 992 race cars lined up at Sebring Circuit this week to launch a new season of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands. Parker Thompson earned second and third-place pro-class finishes, driving the white, red, and yellow JDX Racing #9 car of Shell Tap-Up / Surgere / Byers Porsche / Renier Construction / Jersey Mike’s in two races around the Florida circuit. The result marks a solid start to 2022 as 24-year-old Thompson and the Colorado-based JDX Racing look to build on their 3rd-place finish in last year’s championship.

Through all sessions at Sebring Circuit, Thompson was a top performer. Wet conditions in Wednesday mornings practice sessions presented challenges to all entrants as they looked to refine car setups for qualifying. While Thompson managed excellent times through practice, he was not among the leading drivers when qualifying began on a dry Sebring track. With the session winding down, the team called Thompson into the pits for an aggressive setup change in a last-ditch effort to find more speed. The measures worked. While navigating traffic in the session’s final minutes, Thompson clinched third-place starting positions for races on Thursday.

Thompson and JDX continued to take a bold stance when racing launched the following morning. In contrast to the majority of the field, the team started the #9 on brand new rubber for Race 1, looking for an advantage early in the race that would allow Thompson to pass rivals with Kelly Moss Racing to take the lead. The strategy nearly paid off. Thompson cleared American driver Riley Dickinson on the opening lap to take second-position and then battled with race leader Kay Van Berlo for multiple corners before expending his tire advantage. After twenty laps, he would cross the finish line in second place.

With his tire allotment for the weekend used up, Thompson started Race 2 on a used set of tires, knowing that most of his competitors were on fresh rubber. Despite that disadvantage, a strong start allowed him to gain a spot on the opening lap, moving from third into second. A forceful maneuver from Dickinson saw him give that position back just a lap later. Although Thompson appeared to be under pressure in the third position early on, he earned a comfortable gap for himself as the race progressed. When the checkered flag fell, he stood on the final podium position.

Second and third-place finishes put Thompson third in the overall standings and in a good position as the series heads to Long Beach Street Circuit on April 8th. With tight quarters racing expected there and at all fourteen remaining rounds, Thompson is focused only on one race at a time, aiming to use the team’s experience from 2021 to reach a higher goal in the new season.

 

Parker Thompson

“This is just the beginning! Last year when the season launched at Sebring Circuit, we may have felt a little out of sorts. This season’s performance is a sure sign of our progress as a team. Two podiums here is a solid result. Still, from our team leader Jeremy Dale to our incredible partners at Surgere, Shell Tap-Up, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, and Jersey Mike’s, our end goal is something greater than podiums. After a full season here in Carrera Cup, we’re figuring out what that will take. We made some great notes here at Sebring. Now our focus shifts to Long Beach, where we believe we can do even better.”

IMSA – WeatherTech Sebring Race Results/ Pfaff Motorsports 1st in GTD

IMSA – WeatherTech Sebring Race Results/ Pfaff Motorsports 1st in GTD

All Images Courtesy of IMSA ©2021

Congratulations to the Canadian team of Pfaff Motorsports on their victory in the GTD class at the Twelve Hours at Sebring race tonight. The #9 Porsche 911 GT3R was driven by Canadian Zach Robichon, Laurens Vanthoor and Lars Kern.

Also reaching the podium were Canadians Bruno Spengler ( 2nd in GTLM ) and Roman De Angelis ( 3rd in GTD )

Finish Position

In Class

LMP2

4th

#8 John Farano Tower Motorsport/Tower Events
GTLM

2nd

#25 Bruno Spengler BMW Team RLL
GTD

FIRST

#9 Zacharie Robichon Pfaff Motorsports

3rd

#23 Roman De Angelis Heart of Racing Team

9th

#75 Mikael Grenier Sun Energy 1

12th

#28 Daniel Morad Alegra Motorsports
Mark Wilkins finishes in 1st Place in the TC class today at Sebring. @IMSA #IMPC

Mark Wilkins finishes in 1st Place in the TC class today at Sebring. @IMSA #IMPC

Congratulations to Kyle Marcelli (2nd in GS) and Mark Wilkins (1st in TC) on their podium finishes today

Below is a list of where the Canadian drivers finished in today’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race from Sebring Florida.

GS
2nd #60 Kyle Marcelli/Nate Stacy KohrTex Motorsports
8th #22 Scott Maxwell/Seb Priaulx Multimatic Motorsports
14th #38 Thomas Collingwood/Jan Heylen BGB Motorsports

TC
1st #21 Mark Wilkins/Harry Gottsacker Bryan Herta Autosport
4th #23 James Vance/Max Faulker Speed Syndicate

IMPC Race Results from Sebring @IMSA

IMPC Race Results from Sebring @IMSA

Three Canadians placed in the top 6 in today’s IMPC Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 race at Sebring Raceway. Following are the positions in class where the racers finished.

GS

3rd #69 Jesse Lazare Motorsports In Action McLaren GT4
5th #60 Kyle Marcelli KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4
6th #59 Kenny Wilden KohR Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4
15th #22 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4
18th #13 Scott Hargrove / Orey Fidani AWA Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
23rd #75 Kuno Wittmer Compass Racing McLaren GT4
25th #15 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4

TCR

6th #98 Mark Wilkins BRYAN HERTA AUTOSPORT W CURB-AGAJANIAN Hyundai Veloster N TCR
11th #23 James Vance Fast MD Racing Audi RS3 LMS TCR