After a stunning opening lap featuring three leaders in three corners at Road Atlanta, JDX Racing’s Zach Vanier triumphed in a dramatic round 13 of Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
British pole winner Alex Sedgwick (JDX Racing) led the field into turn one but was passed by championship leader Loek Hartog (Kellymoss) on the opening lap.
Understeer in turn five for Hartog had him under attack before the field arrived at Road Atlanta’s 10a – 10b complex. Hartog ran wide in 10a, with Sedgwick charging around the outside. He briefly retook the lead but Vanier late-apexed 10b and headed up the speed with momentum to take the race lead under the bridge.
The top five – which also included Ryan Yardley (Topp Racing) and Dan Clarke (Era Motorsports) crossed the line three wide after the opening lap, but Vanier maintained the advantage that he never relinquished for the remainder of the race.
Yardley passed Sedgwick on the main straight, and those top three – Vanier, Hartog, and Yardley – maintained those positions to the checkered flag.
The 40-minute race was disrupted by a long yellow flag period. Madeline Stewart (JDX Racing) ran wide in 10a after being passed by Michael Cooper (Baby Bull Racing). Stewart suffered a half spin, and she and Sabre Cook made contact putting both cars out of the race.
The victory was Vanier’s second win of the season. The 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge by Yokohama 992 champion previously won at the Miami Grand Prix.
“That was absolutely amazing. It ranks by far one of the best, if not the best, race of my career. Everything was perfectly executed by the entire JDX team,” Vanier said.
“We were here last week testing, and I felt like we left with a relatively good program and something that we’d be able to come here and compete with.
“We had a really strong qualifying this morning, and that put us in contention for this.
“I am absolutely thrilled right now. This is truly amazing, something I will remember for a very long time.
“Now all the focus goes to tomorrow. We still have a race to win tomorrow. So, we’ll go back tonight, do our homework, look at everything, analyze, and see how we can be better for Friday.”
The Pro-Am class, Kellymoss racer and reigning class champion Efrin Castro charged back to victory lane for the first time since Miami.
Castro led home teammate and 2024 points leader Alan Metni with pole winner Marco Cirone in third.
“I’m glad that we were able to win today. I’m very grateful to get to race with the Racing for Children’s livery this year to support such a good course.
“It’s been a tough year for me, but I’m glad that I was able to win this one, and we still have three more races to go. I think we’re in a good position to make something happen.”
In the Masters class it was a pair of Georgia-based racers who dominated on home soil with Richard Edge leading home his ACI Motorsports teammate Matt Halcome.
The victory was Edge’s third win of the season and his second in a row after winning round 12 in Indianapolis. Pole winner Scott Blind (Ruckus Racing) chased the ACI Motorsports pair home with a third-place finish.
“I got a great start and really kept my eyes forward on that one,” Edge said.
“Once I got past most of the guys, my teammate, Matt, had a little bobble at turn seven and I was able to get around him.
“And then really the rest of the race, I just kept my eyes forward, tried to hit my marks and keep the guys behind me.
“The team gave me a great car, and I’m super happy to get the win here. I’m stoked about it.”
Round 14 of the championship will hit the track at Road Atlanta today at 10:55 am. You can watch live on the Porsche Motorsport North America website, YouTube, Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.
