GT3 Cup: Series Road America round 12 race notes

FATHER AND SON TAKE TOP SPOTS ON PLATINUM AND GOLD CUP PODIUMS

ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN (August 22, 2010) The father and son duo of Amadeo Quiros and Amadeo Quiros II made it a family affair in Round 12 of the Patron GT3 Challenge by Yokohama, winning the Platinum Cup and Gold Cup classes respectively at Road America today in one of the most exciting races of the year.

It was all on throughout the field, with positions changing hands on every one of the caution-free 18 laps. Ross Smith, winner of eight of 11 races this year behind the wheel of the #5 Maxwell Paper Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, extended his lead early on, but Quiros the elder reeled him in, got right on Smith's bumper and made the pass on lap four. But for the father in him, it's as important to see his son with him on the podium.

"When I'm leading, I'm thinking about my place, but then I'm wondering where Amadeo is," said Quiros. "So when we both finished first, I couldn't ask for anything more. When I was able to get right behind Ross, I thought maybe this was my day and I could pass him. So for me, it was perfect."

For young Amadeo, driving the #14 AASCO Motorsports entry, the podium with his father was the culmination of a remarkable year. Taking the wheel when his uncle retired, Quiros II stands in fourth place in the Gold Cup standings, despite missing the first two events. He passed Carlos Eduardo (#24 NGT Motorsport) on lap nine.

"It's never easy getting around Carlos," said Quiros II, "but I was pushing and pushing and I knew I was a little faster than he was. Then I had an opportunity I braked really, really late and I was able to get him. Then I had to push to create a gap to the other Gold Cup cars. Knowing that my father was first, it's just incredible."

With Darrell Carlisle (#92 Kelly-Moss Racing) retiring early with mechanical issues, Smith knows the championship could be his for the taking at Road Atlanta. So he'll take the second place points especially since a surging Brian Wong, teammate to the Quiros duo in the #89 AASCO Motorsports/Adidas entry, nearly took the spot from him.

"We have to keep our heads down and keep doing what we're doing," said Smith. "But it's racing, anything can happen mechanical failures, I can make a mistake. So to come across with this finish is great I made a couple of mistakes and Brian Wong came back to give me a mirror full. We'll see what happens in Atlanta."

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 will come to a dramatic 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