2013 Trois-Rivieres - Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup Canada

The internationally successful Porsche GT3 Cup series was introduced to Canadian fans and participants in 2011. The championship is one of twenty-three similar GT3 Cup series contested throughout the world.

This year’s Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin kicks off on the Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Drivers will collect championship points during Saturday and Sunday races. Each event on the 2013 calendar was a doubleheader race weekend. The series then travels to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as a support event for the Canadian Grand Prix. Next on the schedule is the second visit to CTMP during the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. This is followed by a weekend at Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres for rounds seven and eight. Championships are decided during the final two races at Calabogie Motorsports Park in mid-August.

For 2013 series organizers dropped the Silver Cup category but added a Masters division for drivers 45-years of age and old for the Platinum and Gold Cup classes.

Platinum Cup – This category is for the 2010 - 2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup models. The GT3 Cup Porsche is based on the 911 street version.
Gold Cup – Older (2005-1/2 - 2009) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars compete in this division.

A 4.0-liter aluminum six-cylinder engine powers the current generation Porsche GT3 Cup. The motor produces 450-horsepower at 7,500-rpm and is fitted to a six-speed sequential transmission. Stopping the Porsche are aluminum six-piston calipers on the front – while the rear is equipped with four-piston calipers. The alloy rims on the front of the Porsche are 9.5J X 18 and use 24/64-18 Michelin tires. And, on the rear are 12J X 18 wheels with 30/68-18 tires. The GT3 Cup weighs just over 1,180-kg.

Rounds seven and eight of the 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada were held during the Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Drivers would complete on the eleven-turn 1.53-mile temporary street circuit in two forty-five-minute heat races.

The start of Saturday’s race – round seven – of the 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada at the Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Leading the field into corner one is the pole-winning No. 9 Castrol sponsored Porsche GT3 Cup of Chris Green. Next to Green is the other front-row qualifier, Darryl O’Young, in the No. 69 Speed Merchants Porsche GT3 Cup. A total of fourteen competitors took part in this contest.

The defending Platinum Cup champion, Jean-Frederick Laberge, captured his first victory of the 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada season in the previous round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Laberge was third fastest for the weekend’s first race at Trois-Rivieres. When the front runners encountered issues, he moved into the top spot and claimed the win. The next day, Laberge started and finished third.

After round one of the 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, the Platinum Cup points leader, David Ostella, racked-up five consecutive podium finishes. Ostella qualified fourth quickest for the first race at Trois-Rivieres and inherited a runner-up result when two of the fastest drivers encountered issues. Ostella’s rostrum streak came to an end in the finale, but he still maintained the championship lead.

Last season’s Platinum Cup runner-up, Etienne Borgeat, was having a challenging season, with his only highlight being a runner-up result in round four at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The driver of the No. 2 GT Racing Porsche GT3 Cup qualified ninth fastest for Saturday’s contest. Borgeat was another beneficiary of the issues suffered by the leaders and finished third. In the finale, he started ninth and finished in the sixth spot.

The Platinum Cup podium for round seven of the 2013 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada at Trois-Rivieres. In the center is the reigning series class champion and race winner, Jean-Frederick Laberge. Standing on the left side of the rostrum is the current points leader and runner-up finisher, David Ostella. Occupying the final position on the podium is Laberge’s GT Racing teammate, Etienne Borgeat.

On Saturday, title contender Chris Green missed an opportunity to close the points gap between himself and the championship leader, David Ostella. Green the fastest qualifier for race one at Trois-Rivieres, driving the number No. 9 Porsche GT3 Cup. Unfortunately, issues during the contest resulted in a seventh-place finish. He bounced back with a win on Sunday and was second in the title chase by thirteen markers.

Hong Kong resident and World Touring Car Championship regular Darryl O’Young made a guest appearance driving the No. 69 Speed Merchants Porsche GT3 Cup, usually piloted Christian Chia. O’Young, who qualified second for Saturday’s contest, was not eligible for series points. Encountering problems during the race, he finished seventh overall. On Sunday, O’Young redeemed himself with a victory.

Gold Cup competitor Carlos de Quesada was fresh off a pair of victories in the previous rounds at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He would continue his winning ways in the No. 50 Alegra Motorsport Porsche GT3 Cup at Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. De Quesada started Saturday and Sunday’s races in the eighth position and grabbed the top spot in his group, despite going off-course at corner six in the finale.

To date, Marco Cirone, driver of the No. 88 Mark Motors Racing prepared Porsche GT3 Cup, had four fourth-place finishes – missing the overall podium by a single position. However, these results represented victories in the Platinum Cup Master’s division for drivers 45-years of age and older. At Trois-Rivieres, Cirone would add two more wins to his total, giving him seven first-place results in eight starts.

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	CAR / SPONSOR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	Platinum	Jean-Frederick Laberge	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / GT Racing	40	-
2	Platinum	David Ostella	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	40	-
3	Platinum	Etienne Borgeat	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / GT Racing	40	-
4	Platinum	Marco Cirone	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Mark Motors Racing	40	-
5	Platinum	Anthony Mantella	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	40	-
6	Platinum	Troy Castaneda	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Alegra Motorsports	40	-
7	PRO	Darryl O'Young	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	40	-
8	Platinum	Chris Green	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Pfaff Automotive Partners	40	-
9	Platinum	Martin Harvey	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Wingho Motorsport Racing	40	-
10	Platinum	Perry Bortolotti	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Mark Motors Racing	40	-
11	Gold	Carlos De Quesada	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Alegra Motorsports	40	-
12	Platinum	Shaun McKaigue	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	39	-
13	Gold	Tim Sanderson	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	39	-
14	Gold	Martin Barkey	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	38	-

FINISH	CLASS	DRIVER	CAR / SPONSOR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	PRO	Darryl O'Young	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	41	-
2	Platinum	Chris Green	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Pfaff Automotive Partners	41	-
3	Platinum	Jean-Frederick Laberge	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / GT Racing	41	-
4	Platinum	David Ostella	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	41	-
5	Platinum	Marco Cirone	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Mark Motors Racing	41	-
6	Platinum	Etienne Borgeat	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / GT Racing	41	-
7	Platinum	Perry Bortolotti	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Mark Motors Racing	41	-
8	Platinum	Anthony Mantella	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Speed Merchants	41	-
9	Platinum	Troy Castaneda	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Alegra Motorsports	41	-
10	Platinum	Martin Harvey	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Wingho Motorsport Racing	40	-
11	Gold	Carlos De Quesada	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Alegra Motorsports	40	-
12	Gold	Tim Sanderson	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	40	-
12	Platinum	Shaun McKaigue	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	39	-
14	Gold	Martin Barkey	Porsche 997 GT3 Cup / Fiorano Racing	39	-

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