Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama Drops Green Flag for 2018 Season at Legendary Sebring International Raceway

Zach Robichon takes early lead in the series

TORONTO, March 19, 2018 /CNW/ - The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama began this past weekend with races taking place at the historic Sebring International Raceway in Florida for the first time. The two races, held on Thursday, March 15, and Friday, March 16, were in support of the Mobil1 12 Hours of Sebring, where the Porsche GT Team captured the checkered flag in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class with a 911 RSR.

The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama races offered competitors the chance to drive alongside the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama simultaneously.

"Both Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama races in Sebring, FL, provided a glimpse at just how competitive the series will be this year," said Marc Ouayoun, President & CEO, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. "Exciting position and lead changes happening throughout each race is a clear indication of the driver talent that we have on the grid."

Race 1: Robichon scores last-lap victory
Last year's Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama Platinum Cup championship runner-up, Zach Robichon, got his efforts to improve one more position this season off to a successful start on the afternoon of Thursday, March 15, at Sebring International Raceway, with a last-lap victory in the 45-minute race.

Driving the No. 98 Mark Motors Racing Porsche, Robichon passed his Mark Motors teammate, Roman De Angelis in Turn 16 on the final lap and went on to win by 0.305 seconds. De Angelis, who was representing the No. 78 Mark Motors team in GT3 Cup Challenge Canada but was driving the No. 1 Kelly-Moss Road and Race entry in GT3 Cup Challenge USA, led all but the final lap of the Canadian race.

"It was a really fun race," Robichon said, "he left the door open just a little bit in 16, so I went to the inside, got up alongside him. It was an aggressive move, but I was pretty happy with the way it turned out. It was fun racing with the guys up front."

Finishing third in GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Platinum Cup was Remo Ruscitti in the No. 96 OpenRoad Racing entry. In Platinum Cup Masters, Marco Cirone took the victory in the No. 88 Mark Motors Porsche.

Race 2: Right place, right time for Robichon
Zach Robichon stole the show on the afternoon of Friday, March 16, in a thrilling finish, featuring drivers from both the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama.

While Robichon consistently ran in the top five throughout the 45-minute race in his No. 98 Mark Motors Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, he was never able to get past the revolving 1-2 combination of Roman De Angelis and the overall winner in the first race the day before, Trenton Estep, from the Porsche GT3 Cup USA series.

That is, until the last lap.

Heading into the final and iconic Turn 17, De Angelis in the No. 1 Kelly Moss Road and Race Porsche battled alongside Estep in the No. 3 JDX Racing Porsche heading to the checkered flag. The two cars made contact and spun, opening the door for Robichon to sneak past for the overall and GT3 Cup Challenge Canada victory ahead of second-place in the Canadian Platinum Cup class, Nelson Mason in the No. 35 Policaro Motorsport/SportsCarBoutique machine.

Rounding out the podium was Marco Cirone, driver of the No. 88 Mark Motors Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, who also added his second Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Masters class win of the weekend to his resume. He snuck into the third position as a result of De Angelis' and Estep's collision after running throughout the top ten all race.

The Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama returns for Rounds 3 and 4 on May 19-20, as part of the Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

For updates on the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, follow @IMSA on Twitter with the hashtag #GT3CAN and on Facebook. The latest news can be found by visiting IMSA.com.

SOURCE Porsche Cars Canada