GT3 Cup: Mosport preview

PORSCHE TYPE 997, 996 CUP CARS MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE AT MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

BRASELTON, Ga. (August 28, 2006) - The fastest growing single-make racing series in America heads north of the border for the first time this weekend when the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin visits historic Mosport International Raceway on Saturday, September 2. More than 40 Porsche GT3 Cup cars - both Type 997s and Type 996s - are expected to be on the grid for the Mobil 1 presents Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport.

There are interesting storylines in both classes, mostly focusing on the championship chase as the Mosport event marks the fifth round of the seven- race championship. The points battle in the Type 997 class, featuring the newest model of the renowned Porsche racer, is as tight as it has ever been. Following a second-place finish two weeks ago at Road America, Nathan Swartzbaugh has moved into the championship lead for the first time in his No. 17 AASCO Motorsports entry with 64 points.

At Road America, Swartzbaugh finished behind only Kevin Roush, who also won at Sebring in the No. 12 Wheel Enhancement/GAS Porsche GT3 Cup Type 997 car. Roush, who won the last two events of 2005 and this year's season- opener at Sebring, is third in the standings with 48 points. Second in the championship is the remarkably consistent Dino Steiner with 62 points.

"It's definitely looking good. Consistency has gotten us where we are now," said Swartzbaugh, who tested with AASCO last week at Mosport for the first time. "We really want badly to win. At Road America, we had so many yellow laps that it grew somewhat frustrating. It's so hit or miss because it's such aggressive racing. Driving at 9/10s is the wiser move. You're not putting yourself and the car in as much risk.

"It's an interesting place - kind of death-defying," he added about Mosport. "There will be a lot of interesting and exciting places. There are so many high-speed, off-camber, blind corners. We all had a blast."

In the Type 996 class, Dino Loles in the No. 47 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche has swept each of the first four rounds of the championship. Not only that, he has captured the class pole position and posted the fastest 996 race lap in each race as well. Not surprisingly, he is comfortably ahead in the championship by 19 points over Darrell Carlisle. A strong finish by Loles this weekend could put him in a position to clinch the championship in the next round at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The Porsche GT3 Cup car is featured in some of the most exciting racing around the world. Using this car as a platform, this series is aimed at amateur and semiprofessional racers - drivers who do not make their living in motorsports - with races organized in conjunction with the most prestigious and well attended sports car events in North America, the American Le Mans Series.

The series enjoys the technical support of Porsche Motorsport North America, and is proudly presented by Michelin - manufacturer of high performance tires synonymous with this category of the sport worldwide.

The next round of the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Michelin is set for 5:15 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 2 from Mosport International Raceway. Live Timing & Scoring will be available at imsaracing.net.

-credit: imsa