The Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy East series continued its inaugural season with sprint races Saturday at the PCA Mardi Gras Cup 2016 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana.

The sprint races marked the start of the second event of the new PCA Club Racing spec series, which successfully kicked off April 3-5 at Road Atlanta.

Keith Jensen, representing the Maverick PCA Region, claimed two victories in the No. 51 NOLAsport Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport at his team’s home track after leading every lap of both races.

Sprint 1

Jensen led Sprint 1 from flag to flag, taking the victory 15.369 seconds in front of Frank Selldorff. Jensen, who finished second at the season opener, credited his win to his team, coach Jason Hart and his Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

Jensen started the race on pole with a top qualifying lap of 1 minute, 47.072 seconds. He led the field at the green flag and progressively extended his lead throughout the 16-lap race.

Selldorff, from the Northeast PCA Region, finished second in the No. 65 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche.

“Second is the best I could’ve hoped for,” Selldorff said. “Keith is at another level. I hung with him for a few laps, and then the gap opened up and I just tried to stay safe and bring it home.”

Rounding out the overall podium in third was David Baum, representing the Western Michigan PCA Region. He reached the podium after starting sixth in the No. 24 Autometrics Motorsports entry.

“I just had it in my mind that I was going to make the podium,” Baum said. “So I just picked off a couple
cars one by one. I just said, ‘I got a lot of time, just make it work.'”

Ed Lane, from the Florida Crown PCA Region in the No. 66 Autometrics Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport, was the top finisher in the Masters Class for drivers age 57 or older.

David Walker, representing the Maverick PCA Region, finished second in the Masters Class in the No. 28 TOPP Racing entry. John Frank, from the Connecticut Valley PCA Region, was third in the No. 11 DeMan Motorsports Porsche.

The two sprint races at the PCA Mardi Gras Cup 2016 were Frank’s first races in the series.

“I’m very fortunate to be on podium,” Frank said. “Feels great, and it’s a great series.”

Sprint 2

Later in the afternoon in the second race of the day, Jensen once again showed his dominance by leading every lap. Much like the first race, he continuously built a gap over the rest of the field to take a 15.173-second victory over Baum.

Baum started the race in third, determined by the finishing order of the field in Sprint 1, but finished second overall in the 16-lap race after a battle with Selldorff.

The two went back and forth throughout the race. Baum used an inside move on Selldorff in Turn 1 on Lap 9 to take second for the first time. But Selldorff regained the position in the next corner.

Baum passed Selldorff on Lap 11 for the final time and pulled away to second, 1.968 seconds ahead of Selldorff.

In the Masters Class, Lane, Walker and Frank repeated their 1-2-3 finish from the first race.

The third and final race of the weekend will be an 80-minute endurance race starting at 1:50 p.m. (CT) Sunday.

Each of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport cars on track this weekend were tested by a team from Porsche Motorsport at the legendary Nürburgring in Germany. The Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport is a 385-horsepower, mid-engine racer, which features a sealed engine and transmission and a spec Pirelli tire. It is Porsche’s first mid-engine race car.

Pirelli was named as an Official Series Sponsor and Tire Provider for the PCA Club Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy East series at the start of the season. Drivers are allowed to use 12 tires from Pirelli during qualifying, Sprint 1, Sprint 2 and endurance races this weekend.

Sprint 1 Post-Race Quotes:

KEITH JENSEN (No. 51 NOLAsport, winner): “Great track. I love being with NOLAsport – fabulous team. Jason Hart is a fabulous coach; I wouldn’t be going this fast without him. Great time, great people – they’re doing a great job here. It’s a great car. It really handles well.”

FRANK SELLDORFF (No. 65 Kelly-Moss Road and Race, second): “First of all, great series. This is really a lot of fun. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I’m really glad I joined the series with Kelly-Moss’ first-class team.’ So it just comes down to me. This weekend I had enough previous experience at the track to kind of be at the front of the grid most of the weekend. Second is the best I could’ve hoped for, though. Keith is at another level. So, very pleased with that result. We got off to a good start. I hung with him for a few laps, and then the gap opened up and I just tried to stay safe and bring it home.”

DAVID BAUM (No. 24 Autometrics Motorsports, third): “We had a really good race today. I was a little disappointed with my qualifying effort; we started back in sixth. But race conditions were good, and I just had it in my mind that I was going to make the podium, so I just picked off a couple cars one by one. I just said, ‘I got a lot of time, just make it work.’ We’re starting third now and going for another podium for the next race.”

ED LANE (No. 66 Autometrics Motorsports, first Masters): “The race was a good race today. Everybody was trying hard. I’m very sorry that Roger Halverson had an accident earlier because I was looking forward to racing with Roger. Sometimes he’s quicker, and sometimes I am. Without him in the race, it made it a little easier for me. But the car was great. I think everybody appeared to be having a good race, and I know I did.”

DAVID WALKER (No. 28 TOPP Racing, second Masters): “I had a blast! I love the car. It’s my first new race car ever, and it’s such a perfect car for me. I’m learning, and I’m improving every race. I love the car.”

JOHN FRANK (No. 11 DeMan Motorsport, third Masters): “It’s my first time at NOLA. It’s a great track. It’s my first time in the car – hadn’t turned one lap, so I’m just getting used to it. I’m so happy to be here. I got lucky. All the fast guys had problems, so I got lucky. I’m very fortunate to be on the podium. It feels great, and it’s a great series.”

Sprint 2 Post-Race Quotes:

KEITH JENSEN (No. 51 NOLAsport, winner): “I’m super-excited to be part of this great organization. These are a great bunch of guys. I would race side-by-side with these guys any time. I’m just concentrating on my drive. I’m just doing my best to drive within myself, and it worked out pretty well.”

DAVID BAUM (No. 24 Autometrics Motorsports, second): “I started in third and then picked up one spot, finished in second. I had a great race. These cars are so amazing. I mean, they are truly equal cars. You just got to drive your butt off! But it’s so much fun, and I just can’t believe it. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. First race, I was catching (Frank) Selldorff toward the end. I was outbraking him and won in Turn 3. We actually changed positions two or three times during the race. It was fun; we had a lot of fun. I know Frank had fun, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.”

FRANK SELLDORFF (No. 65 Kelly-Moss Road and Race, third): “David (Baum) and I were side-by-side the whole time. He impressed me the whole race and he deserved to get by, he was quicker than me. It was a ton of fun. It was very clean, just the way it’s supposed to be. For tomorrow, I need to figure out what’s going with the brakes because David was clearly out braking me. Otherwise, I will just try to stay tight and survive. This will be my first solo endurance, so hopefully I can handle it.”

ED LANE (No. 66 Autometrics Motorsports, first Masters): “I had a good race today. I followed Adam Merzon from the beginning. I thought I was going to be able to pass him and never really came as close as I wanted to and actually getting by. But I was very pleased to follow such an accomplished driver and do so well today.”

DAVID WALKER (No. 28 TOPP Racing, second Masters): “For some reason I’m slower than I was yesterday, but I did OK. I’ve got a lot of practice to do. The car was great, but this is a processional kind of track with not a lot of opportunities for passing. I’m looking forward to the endurance tomorrow. My son and I swap out. He’s a much better driver than I am, but we’re having fun and enjoying it. He’s my coach otherwise, so he’s getting me up to speed. I’m going to take first place in Masters by the end of the season.”

JOHN FRANK (No. 11 DeMan Motorsport, third Masters): “Another great race. I’m thrilled to be here in the Clubsport competition. It’s my first time in NOLA, first time driving the Cayman. It’s a great car, and I want to thank Porsche and PCA. It was a fantastic outcome for me. Tomorrow I’m going to push a little harder.”

2016 PCA Club Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport Trophy East Schedule

Date Venue
April 1-3 Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
April 15-17 NOLA Motorsports Park, Avondale, Louisiana
June 3-5 Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York
June 24-26 VIRginia Motorsports Park, Danville, Virginia
Sept. 3-5 Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Oct. 21-23 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

Source. LST Martketing