Sonoma Stars Shine Bright in Porsche Sprint Challenge

Porsche Sprint Challenge North America makes only West Coast stop of season at Sonoma Raceway...

Apr 8, 2025 - 16:32
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Sonoma Stars Shine Bright in Porsche Sprint Challenge

Photo: Porsche

The Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama championship made its lone trip to the West last weekend, running at Sonoma Raceway in Northern California.

The annual schedule shakeup meant drivers in the series – which typically runs in East and Central time zone tracks – had a near-level playing field with little experience to lean on. As a result, eight races for four classes had a variety of winners and some of the most exciting racing yet in 2025.

No repeat Winners in Sprint Challenge North America 992 GT3 Cup

Four winners were crowned in four class battles for Sprint Challenge North America’s 992 GT3 Cup categories.

In the Pro-Am class, young driver Cole Kleck fell prey to his lack of experience by starting on pole for Race 1, but quickly receiving a penalty for changing lanes prior to the green flag.

The focus then shifted to Alan Metni and Blake McDonald. As Metni battled with another class leader for the overall win, McDonald closed in during the final minutes. Despite the late surge, Metni held on for his first win of the year over his Kellymoss teammate by 0.315 seconds.

Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program member Therese Lahlouh made a stunning charge through the field from ninth on the grid to finish third.

In Race 2, however, Kleck proved he learned from his earlier mistakes and led flag-to-flag en route to the win – his third of the season with Topp Racing. McDonald captured a second runner-up position, while Metni finished on the podium again in third.

In the Masters class, California native Kayden Kelly did use his local experience to win the first race of the weekend, despite testing the limits with fellow class leader Metni towards the end of the race.

Scott Blind and Reinhold Krahn finished second and third, respectively, and both drivers would advance a position by the end of Race 2. Kelly was poised for a weekend sweep in the class, but a late-race drive-through elevated Blind to his second win of the year with Ruckus Racing, and Krahn to second place. Kelly rebounded for third.

Dyselski and Cecchi Earn First Victories, Scalzo Also Victorious in Cayman Class

The only driver to sweep-in-class at Sonoma was Danny Dyselski with VPX Motorsport, and his 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Pro-Am wins could be credited to a particular reason.

Dyselski – a newcomer to sports car racing after an upbringing in open wheel competition – competed in the same model and at the same racetrack in GT4 America the week prior, and took his learnings all the way to victory lane this time around in Sprint Challenge.

Jens Hanston was the next closest competitor, but was no match for Dyselski’s strength. After sweeping the opening event at Sebring International Raceway, Hanston earned double runner-up finishes at Sonoma.

Splitting third-place finishes was a duo of racers from the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program – Erika Hoffman in Race 1 for the first time in her career, and Anna Checchi in Race 2.

Anna wasn’t the only member of her family in the limelight with CHR at Sonoma – her father, Greg, scored his first professional racing victory in the Cayman Masters class in Race 1. Lady Luck was on the elder Checchi’s side as the leading car of Alain Scalzo spun with less than 10 minutes remaining to promote his competitor to the win and Daniel Ammann to second.

Running under his own team banner, Scalzo rebounded to not only finish third in Race 1, but back on the top step in Race 2 for his third win of the year. Greg Cecchi with CHR followed in second, with Bill Fenech in third.

The next round of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama takes place at another joint event, this time at Circuit of The Americas. The Austin racetrack hosts Sprint Challenge North America, its USA West series counterpart, and the third round of Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama on May 16-18.

Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Results

992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Alan Metni
2. Blake McDonald
3. Therese Lahlouh
Masters
1. Kayden Kelly
2. Scott Blind
3. Reinhold Krahn

992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Cole Kleck
2. Blake McDonald
3. Alan Metni
Masters
1. Scott Blind
2. Reinhold Krahn
3. Kayden Kelly

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Danny Dyselski
2. Jens Hanston
3. Erika Hoffman
Masters
1. Greg Cecchi
2. Dan Ammann
3. Alain Scalzo

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Danny Dyselski
2. Jens Hanston
3. Anna Cecchi
Masters
1. Alain Scalzo
2. Greg Cecchi
3. Bill Fenech

Photo: Porsche

Sprint Challenge USA West Unleashes Excitement at Sonoma

After a calm opening weekend at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama was anything but for its second round at Sonoma Raceway.

As part of the lone Porsche Endurance Challenge North America weekend on the West Coast, several drivers joined the series as a one-off for additional track time – and therefore, brought the heat to Sprint Challenge USA West and its field largely filled with racing newcomers.

West Coast drivers Duel With Porsche Champions for 992 GT3 Cup Wins

It was a battle between West Coast Porsche drivers looking to defend their home turf versus Porsche single-make champions in the 992 GT3 Cup categories – with the results split down the middle.

Competition Motorsports driver and Arizonan Luke French fought for the 992 GT3 Cup Pro-Am win against five-time, Porsche single-make champion Alan Metni. After sweeping Spring Mountain, French fended off Metni’s efforts in Race 1 while the Texan finished second ahead of Brannan Hankins.

Intensity sparked in the final minutes of Race 2 when lapped traffic allowed Metni to cut into French’s lead. In thrilling fashion, the pair drove side-by-side, changing lanes through Sonoma’s sweeping turns, and Metni emerged on top coming to the checkered flag. But in a final attempt, French threw his Porsche inside Metni’s in the famous Turn 11 hairpin, and spun his competitor.

French was handed a penalty that elevated Metni and Kellymoss to the win, Daniel Hanley to second, and Brannan Hankins to his second third-place finish of the weekend.

In 992 GT3 Cup Masters, Sprint Challenge North America and Endurance Challenge North America winner Scott Blind was versus the field. Driving with his Ruckus Racing team, Blind passed Jim Walsh early for the class lead and eventual win in Race 1, but tangled with another competitor early in Race 2 that led to a penalty.

As a result, Kyle Washington was victorious with GMG Racing after finishing third the day prior. Jim Walsh earned his second runner-up finish of the weekend and Blind rebounded to pass for third just in the final corners.

718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport competitors face adversity in Sonoma

It was a challenging weekend, but one to learn from, for competitors in the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport categories.

In Pro-Am, Emanuel Tartaglione with ProSport Competition was awarded the double victory ahead of running in the Endurance Challenge race on Sunday afternoon.

However, Tartaglione stood on the podium alone as his next competitor, Jack Parriott, walked away from a hard crash in Race 1 that prevented him from running in Race 2.

In the Am class, the trio of Tim Smith, Tom Rogers and Greg Herback traded podium positions throughout the two races. Rogers was poised for the first win of the weekend, but received a penalty before the race’s end. As a result, the focus shifted to Smith and Herback, who finished in that order by just 0.328 seconds.

In Race 2, Rogers and Tatum Racing reclaimed their position at the top and refused to let go. Instead, Smith and Herback continued their battle from the day prior and both even ran off-track individually in their efforts. Ultimately, the pair finished in the same order as Race 1, but this time behind Rogers.

The next round of Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama takes place at another joint event, this time at Circuit of The Americas. The Austin racetrack hosts USA West, its North America series counterpart, and the third round of Porsche Endurance Challenge North America by Yokohama on May 16-18.

Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West by Yokohama Results

992 GT3 Cup Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Luke French
2. Alan Metni
3. Brannan Hankins
Masters
1. Scott Blind
2. Jim Walsh
3. Kyle Washington

992 GT3 Cup Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Alan Metni
2. Daniel Hanley
3. Brannan Hankins
Masters
1. Kyle Washington
2. Jim Walsh
3. Scott Blind

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 1 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Emanuel Tartaglione
2. Jack Parriott
Masters
1. Tim Smith
2. Greg Herback
3. Tom Rogers

718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Race 2 Podium:
Pro-Am
1. Emanuel Tartaglione
Masters
1. Tom Rogers
2. Tim Smith
3. Greg Herback