Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America concluded its inaugural season at Road Atlanta with a clear statement from Coanda Esports, as champion Mitchell deJong led a 1–2–3 finish in the final round.
Already crowned champion before the green flag, deJong added a fifth win from six races with a controlled, lights-to-flag drive. From pole, he navigated a busy opening lap with teammates Michael Janney and Xander Reed slotted in behind to form a Coanda Esports train.
From there, the trio controlled the pace through the 40-minute journey
No decisive moves came at the front after the opening phase. DeJong managed the gap, Janney remained within reach without forcing an attack, and Reed held position to ensure the team maintained formation to the finish. The focus shifted from outright aggression to execution, with all three drivers avoiding mistakes as the race developed behind them.
“This is kind of what we had hoped we could accomplish. I can’t believe the pace that all three of us had.,” said deJong.
“I’m super proud of what we had there. It was a really clean race for us, just kind of getting through everything, and I’m glad we were able to get some redemption after a bit of drama last week.
“It’s been a really good season. I would have been happy just to win one race and be near the podium the rest of the time, so to come away with five wins is pretty crazy. You just never know with this style of racing – the draft, how close the times are – so to consistently qualify well and make the most of every situation, that’s what made the difference. I’m really proud of the team.”
Behind him, Janney delivered his strongest performance outside of Road America, securing second place and completing the team’s sweep at the front.
“Definitely a good day in the office. Mitchell and Xander are great at putting in prep when I’m away, and I kind of just jump on and try to execute. They put in a lot of work, and it showed today,” said Janney.
“To come away with a one-two-three as a team is massive. It really shows the level we’re operating at. When everything comes together like that, it’s pretty special, and it’s a great way to finish the season.”
Reed followed in third, securing second in the championship standings with another composed and consistent drive to close out the year.
“It’s been a really consistent year for me, and to finish it like this with a one-two-three for the team is pretty special. We’ve been close to this result a few times, so to finally get it done is a great way to end it,” said Reed.
“At that stage of the race, it was about being smart. There was no need to force anything. Just stay in position, hit your marks and bring it home. That’s what mattered.”
While the front three remained largely unchanged after the opening laps, the rest of the field delivered a far more aggressive race. Packs of cars ran nose-to-tail across multiple groups, with constant position changes, side-by-side racing and increasing pressure as the race progressed.
Incidents and penalties played a role throughout. Early contact in the pack shuffled drivers down the order, while several competitors were caught out by incident limits. The intensity remained high into the closing laps, particularly in the fight for the final points-paying positions.
A key moment came late when Dalton Zavadil, running in contention for the final point, lost control exiting Turn 5 and hit the wall. The incident ended one of the race’s most competitive battles and opened the door for a multi-car fight to the finish.
That fight delivered one of the closest finishes of the season. Jaden Munoz edged Alex Johnson by just 0.004 seconds at the line after a drag race through the final corners, while Jordan Ehr secured 15th place to claim the final championship point.
At the front, however, the order remained unchanged. DeJong’s victory capped a dominant campaign defined by consistency in both qualifying and race conditions, while Reed’s third-place finish secured second in the standings and Sean Campbell finished fifth to lock in third overall.
The result also marked the first time this season that Coanda Esports locked out all three podium positions, providing a clear closing statement to the championship.
Five wins from six races confirmed deJong as a clear inaugural champion and set the benchmark for Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America moving forward.
For part of his Championship winning prize, deJong was invited to the ‘in real life’ Porsche Carrera Cup North America event at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, where he was given a tour by Aaron Jeansonne.
All Porsche Esports Carrera Cup North America races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by following Porsche Motorsport North America on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, and Twitter, and by subscribing to the newsletter.
RESULTS.
Qualifying
- Mitchell deJong #48
- Sean D Campbell #26
- Xander Reed #77
Race
- Mitchell deJong #48
- Michael Janney #23
- Xander Reed #77
