The newest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car was unveiled both in Paris, France and Braselton, Georgia last fall. This weekend, the world’s most produced racecar made its on-track premiere at Sebring International Raceway. The new rear-engine machine is available only to racers in the two North American Porsche one-make championships: the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, the international Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup series and Germany’s Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland in 2017.

Former Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama series champion Scott Hargrove in the No. 9 of Pfaff Motorsports took the Platinum class victory from pole sitter and Hurley Haywood Scholarship winner Jake Eidson in the No. 24 of Kelly-Moss Road and Race, with an unexpected outside pass in Turn 1 just before the first full course caution period of the race.

Hargrove held on to his position in his 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for the remainder of the race, leaving Eidson and newcomer Trenton Estep in the No. 3 of JDX Racing to wage a close battle in his wake. Hargrove took the checkered flag with a 0.541 second lead ahead of Eidson and Estep, who ultimately finished second and third in class, respectively.

Race 2 of Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama competition on Friday afternoon saw warmer track conditions than the previous day – dry and sunny with a track temperature averaging in the middle to upper sixties. Although the weather conditions remained consistent, the on-track action played out with a lot of different variables and only one full-course caution period.

Eidson swept the Round 2 Platinum Cup win from his starting Pole Position in the No. 24 Kelly-Moss Road and Race entry. Canadian competitor and Round 1 winner Scott Hargrove in his Pfaff Motorsports 911 GT3 Cup entry contested for the lead, but ultimately dropped off track and collected some event signage that blocked the radiator of the car, causing him to overheat and drop back through the field. This moved JDX Racing’s Trenton Estep up into the second-place position and newcomer Corey Fergus in his No. 00 entry with Moorespeed took the third-place step on the podium. His first podium in series competition and potentially a foreshadowing of what is to come.

Race 1 Driver Quotes:

Scott Hargrove – No. 9, Pfaff Motorsports – Platinum Cup Winner

“Right from the second I jumped into this new 2017 991.2 Cup car I felt like I was right at home. A bit more power – the car moves around a little bit more on you, so you have to manhandle it a little bit more. The Pfaff Motorsports guys did a really good job on setting it up and it was really, really good over the long run. Jake (Eidson) was right there, started on pole and I had a good car at the beginning and was able to put the pressure on him. I stuck my nose in and was able to get the spot in Turn 1, which I’m sure looked pretty cool from the outside. I can’t wait to see the replay. For the rest of the race it was smooth sailing and then the yellows made it a little interesting, especially there at the end. Two-lap dash to the end. I’m just loving driving these cars and can’t wait to come back and do it again.”

Jeff Mosing – No. 01,TOPP Racing – Platinum Masters Winner

“The first race is always good to get behind me without virtually any damage to the car. I just wanted to get out there and get that first round done. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, somebody dumped some radiator fluid over there in 16, but I wasn’t able to recognize it in time. Spun off and had to work my way back up to 10th place overall. I’m really excited for the TOPP Racing team and I am really enjoying this brand new Porsche 2017 Cup car. It’s a total blast to drive. Thanks to Porsche, IMSA, Yokohama Tire, and to everyone else.”

Roman De Angelis – No. 78, Mark Motors Racing – Gold Cup Winner

“It was pretty busy out there – exciting. I’m happy we kept it clean throughout the whole race. The car was super good. It got to where I had a good enough gap in Gold so I could start fighting with the Platinum cars to see if I could get a good overall position. We worked our way up to seventh, so I am happy with that.”

Race 2 Driver Quotes

Jake Eidson – No. 24, Kelly-Moss Road and Race – Platinum Cup Winner

“It was anything but smooth sailing. It was pretty mellow midpoint and we had a pretty good gap and I was just trying to control the race. But when the yellow came out, I had my work cut out for me. But the Kelly-Moss team did a great job to set up the car. I also want to thank Hurley Haywood for getting me here. If it wasn’t for him and everyone with this scholarship, I wouldn’t even be here. Big thanks to them and hopefully there will be more to come.”

Jeff Mosing – No. 01, TOPP Racing – Platinum Masters Winner

“I’m not sure if with all the WeatherTech rubber going down that it made the track conditions all that different, but it was a little slippery out there. The Yokohamas did their job, I just worked them a little harder than I should have. Trying to keep pace with those guys, it’s tough being an old man, but I tried and gave it my all. Todd Opperman and those guys did a great job with the car. I stayed out of trouble this time around. A little contact with (McKay) Snow at one point but nothing major. They did a really good job with the car for me to come into seventh, I’m really happy for that.”

Roman De Angelis – No. 78, Mark Motors Racing – Gold Cup Winner

“I am mainly just learning the difference between the Platinum car and the Gold car and how to manage tires a lot better. Yesterday I think I just babied the tires a little too much. I could have pushed a lot more in the beginning and still had tires and the end. I definitely figured out a lot more today about how the car changes throughout the race. That was probably the biggest thing. I could hang with the competition but it was really different. I had to pick when I was going to push and when I was going to pass. It’s different in different places. We were a little better in some of the corners, but on the straightaways, we definitely pulled a ton.”

Source. Porsche/LST Markeing