GT3 Cup: Series Road America round 11 race notes

SMITH MAKES IT EIGHT OF 11, EDUARDO WINS NUMBER SIX

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN (August 21, 2010) Ross Smith made it eight victories in 11 races in the Patron Challenge by Yokohama, while Carlos Eduardo bounced back from a massive crash in the last event to win his sixth race of the year at the Time Warner Road Race Showcase at Road America.

For Smith, driving the #5 Maxwell Paper Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, it was the same old story three yellow flags that kept him in contact with the field. With each restart, #88 Marco Cirone (6th Gear Racing) and #58 Amadeo Quiros (AASCO Motorsports/Purdymotor) refused to back off, keeping the pressure on throughout all 18 laps.

"I knew Cirone was very quick, so every time we got the yellow, I changed my throttle point on the green flag as long as it was in the carousel, it was fine. So I'd hit the throttle at a different point every time, which helped keep me in front at the green flag. But by the third lap after each yellow, I was able to get the lead stretched out a little bit."

For Quiros, the move of the day was an inside pass of Cirone and #21 Michael Schein (Alex Job Racing) to take over second place. It was an important spot for Quiros.

"I knew that I could pass them and I did it!" said Quiros. "I started in sixth place and lost a spot early, and I thought it would be very difficult to get on the podium and I really wanted to be on the podium because I crashed here last year. So I'm very happy."

Winning the Gold Cup class was #24 Carlos Eduardo (NGT Motorsport), coming back from an accident at Mid- Ohio two weeks ago that destroyed his car, and taking over absent teammate Eduardo Cisneros' Porsche this weekend. To Eduardo, the win meant everything.

"After what happened at Mid-Ohio, I am so happy to be here!" said Eduardo. "At the end, after the third restart, everyone was really close and I was getting really tired, but it was a blast."

The Patron GT3 Challenge by Yokohama features semi-professional drivers racing head to head in one of the world's most successful race cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car. As a developmental series designed to prepare drivers and teams for professional careers in sports car racing, the multi-class structure of the series teaches drivers essential skills for an eventual career in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron.

The series is broken into two classes, with the Platinum Cup Class featuring the more powerful 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car. The Gold Cup Class includes 2005 ½ - 2009 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.

The Speed TV production of Rounds 11 and 12 of the Patron GT3 Challenge by Yokohama is scheduled to air on Sunday, September 191:00 am EDT. The 2010 season comes to a close at the legendary Petit Le Mans, September 29 October 2 at Road Atlanta. Follow along on the race weekend at www.gt3timing.com and visit www.imsachallenge.com for the latest track schedule, television information and updates.

-source: imsa