GT3 Cup: Series Laguna Seca final event summary

FAIETA DOMINATES AT LAGUNA SECA WINNING RACES AND CHAMPIONSHIP

MONTEREY, Calif. October 11 -- Bob Faieta, Tujunga, Calif., captured his third consecutive Patron GT3 Challenge by Yokohama championship winning the final two rounds at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Faieta did what he needed to do to secure the championship in round 13, taking the pole position and leading flag to flag in the 30-minute race.

"A big weight was just removed off of my shoulders," Faieta said after round 13. "This whole year has been tough with Martin. Even though it seemed like a sure thing, it wasn't a sure thing."

After clinching the championship Saturday, all bets were off for the final 75-minute round Sunday.

Faieta started second behind Galen Bieker, Burbank, Calif., who led the first ten laps of the race before Faieta made a pass in turn three that took the lead. Bieker eventually pulled off track, handing third in the championship to Mitch Pagerey, Deerfield Beach, Fla., who finished second behind Faieta. Martin Snow finished fourth in Saturday's race, securing second in the Platinum championship.

The Gold Cup championship, the category for 2005-2007 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, came down to the final race of the weekend. Brian Wong, Newport Beach, Calif., was trailing Melanie Snow, Pleasant Grove, Utah, entering this weekend's event.

Wong sat on pole for both races and won round 13, but had trouble in round 14 and was not able to finish the race. Snow's second place finish in the final round clinched her first Patron GT3 Challenge by Yokohama championship.

"I am so happy to have this championship. I've worked really hard for it," Snow said. "When I saw these trophies, I thought I want one of those. I have to thank Martin. We have two championships this weekend and it's our 15-year anniversary, so I couldn't ask for anything more."

Martin and Melanie have also competed in the ALMS Challenge class of the American LeMans Series, winning three out of five races and the championship.

Robert Rodriguez, Zephyr Cove, Nev., scored his first-ever series victory in the final round of the season. Rodriguez, a series veteran, spent much of the season racing in the Platinum Cup before switching to the Gold Cup at the last event.

"I had a little mishap at Autobahn. We called it a readjustment, so I decided to switch over to the Gold Cup," Rodriguez explained. "Today was a lot of fun. It was a fabulous weekend. I'm so proud of my team."

One of the most exciting drives of the weekend was by Tim Rosengrant, Paradise Valley, Pa. Rosengrant made his way to seventh place after starting 14th. His drive to the front made him the Yokohama Hard Charger award recipient. Rosengrant also advanced more positions than any other Platinum Cup driver all year.

On hand this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. In anticipation of leading the way next year, the car led the start of both rounds at the hands of Porsche drivers Wolf Henzler and Patrick Long.

-credit: imsa