Van Berlo Wins Porsche Carrera Cup Opener; Carter Takes MX-5 Cup Nail-Biter
By Mark Robinson
ELKAHRT LAKE, Wis. – Honda Performance Development (HPD) announced that the next generation of the Acura NSX GT3, the Evo22, will be available for competition in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022. The latest evolution of the Acura NSX GT3 features revisions aimed at addressing team and driver needs and will provide more consistent performance across a wider range of conditions and drivers.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this latest development of the already highly successful Acura NSX GT3,” said John Whiteman, HPD Manager, Commercial Motorsports. “While the NSX has won races and titles in some of the world’s most prestigious GT3 series, we believe in constantly improving our products and providing the best possible equipment and support for our Acura Motorsports teams.”
The Evo22 edition will feature upgraded engine intercoolers to ensure consistency in engine performance in a wider range of conditions; revised spring rates and suspension geometry adjustments; increased fluid tank sizes for endurance racing; wheel system revisions for faster tire changes; and a new FIA-mandated rain light. Additional options include an air conditioning system and headlights.
As with the current NSX GT3 Evo, the Evo22 chassis is made in Marysville, Ohio, with final assembly completed by JAS Motorsport in Milan, Italy. The Evo22 is homologated through 2024.
Since its North American introduction in 2017, the Acura NSX GT3 has recorded seven class wins in WeatherTech Championship GT Daytona (GTD) competition, as well as sweeping the driver, team and manufacturer class championships in 2020 and driver and team titles in 2019.
Van Berlo Takes Flag-to-Flag Win in Porsche Carrera Cup North America
Kay van Berlo led every lap on Saturday to win the first of two Porsche Carrera Cup North America races this weekend at Road America. The win by the driver of the No. 3 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, type 992, was his fifth of the season and fourth straight. Parker Thompson (No. 9 JDX Racing Porsche) finished second by 1.880 seconds.
Alan Metni (No. 99 iFly/Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche) was the winner in the Pro-Am class, by 1.953 seconds over Efrin Castro (No. 65 Team Hardpoint EBM Porsche). Metni now has six class wins in seven races this season.
Matt Halcome (No. 55 Goldcrest Motorsports Porsche) was the winner in the Pro-Am 991 class for previous-generation cars. Second place in the class went to Tom Balames (No. 59 Kelly-Moss Road and Race Porsche).
The second Porsche Carrera Cup race starts at 10:45 a.m. ET Sunday. It will stream live on IMSA.com/TVLive and TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.
Carter Wins Drag Race to Finish of Mazda MX-5 Cup Race
Michael Carter won the drag race up the frontstretch hill to the checkered flag at Road America on Saturday, capturing the Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires race by a miniscule 0.008 seconds.
In what has become typical for MX-5 Cup contests, the 45-minute race featured numerous lead changes amid a tightly bunched pack of cars at the front. Carter, the reigning series champion driving the No. 08 Carter Racing Enterprises Mazda, was running second to Sam Paley (No. 28 McCumbee McAleer Racing) as they exited the 14th and final turn on the 4.048-mile road course. Carter broke left from the pack, pulled alongside Paley as they crested the hill and narrowly edged ahead at the finish line for his third win this season.
Selin Rollan (No. 87 Hixon Motor Sports), who won the first weekend race on Friday, finished third. The top seven cars all finished less than a second behind the winner. Saturday’s victory allowed Carter to retain the championship lead over Gresham Wagner (No. 5 Spark Performance), who finished fifth on Saturday.