With two rounds of competition already in the books, the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA is off to a rapid start as four races have featured some riveting action to begin the 2016 Championship.

This weekend, the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA revs up for Races 5 and 6 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with nearly 40 cars expected to compete.

At 2.238-miles long, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has 11 corners – most famously, the one of a kind Corkscrew section that drops a steep 59 feet in elevation. Known for its scenic views and its challenging twists and turns, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a driver favorite.

Five classes will once again be in action this weekend: Diamond, Platinum, Platinum Masters, Silver and Silver Masters.

BR Racing’s Robert Todd continues to lead the way in the Diamond class championship. And it’s a big weekend for Todd and the entire Los Gatos-based BR Racing team as the group competes at their home track. The squad looks to capitalize on their vast experience at the northern California road course with another strong outing.

“Laguna Seca is our home track and we have a lot of track time at the facility,” said Todd, who drives the No. 52 Porsche. “We have done quite a bit of testing and have a great starting point for the track and the series. Our goal is to win, but if we cannot do that, our championship is always at the forefront of our minds. We will focus on getting the best result in order to grow our championship lead and continue to be consistent in our results. Laguna Seca is known to be a very fast track and I love it for that, and momentum is key. We are excited to represent our sponsors Snap On, Santa Cruz Bikes, Racetech seats, and Evogen at this race as it is a local event for all of them. We’ll put on a good show for all of our hometown supporters that are coming out.”

TruSpeed Autosport driver Tom Haacker, who has won three of the first four races in his No. 45 Mother’s Polish Porsche, leads the Platinum class championship and carries big momentum into the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca event.

“We’ve been off to a great start this season,” said Haacker of the opening two rounds. “The TruSpeed Autosport team has given me a great car each race. This weekend we will be running another car that has been a work in progress. Raji Olvera and the team at TruSpeed Autosport have spent a lot of time getting her ready. We are all looking forward to racing at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Most everyone loves this iconic track and it’s certainly one of my favorites.”

The previous Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA outing at the Thermal Club was a big weekend for the TruSpeed Autosport team with three wins on Sunday. Jason Godfrey took his Justice Brothers machine to the top in the Diamond class while Haacker and Jim Slavik won in Platinum and Platinum Masters, respectively.

Platinum Masters championship leader Larry Schnur has similar expectations for this weekend’s racing. Through the first four races, Schnur has stood on the podium at all four with three victories and a runner-up finish.

“Laguna is one of my favorites,” said Schnur. “It’s fast and flowing, has a great history and with the upgrades, is a first class facility. The challenge is maintaining momentum, you’ve got to get every corner right. Several hard braking zones afford passing opportunities so the racing is always exciting. I’m looking forward to another Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA weekend. The racing has been close and fair and just great fun.”

Competition Motorsports driver Sean McAlister, who’s first-ever car race was at the season-opening event at Circuit of the Americas, continues to sit atop the Silver (Porsche Cayman ClubSport GT4) championship standings. Steve Goldman has consistently posted top results and leads the Silver Masters division in his Competition Motorsports Porsche Cayman ClubSport GT4.

Held as part of the NASA event weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA weekend kicks off with three practice sessions on Friday.

Live timing and scoring can be followed throughout the weekend at: http://www.competentmotorsport.com/live-timing/.

Source. Sunday Group