The Streets of Toronto Await the Single-Make Series
TORONTO – The Porsche Carrera Cup North America Presented by the Cayman Islands will make its Canadian debut this weekend at the Indy Toronto. Since its introduction in 2021, the championship has become a premier one-make series regularly drawing the largest fields of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, type 992, race cars on the globe. While the series is in its second season of competition, it is the first time the three classes that make Carrera Cup have been able to cross the border to fulfill its North American title.
The twin 40-minute races will take to the streets of Toronto on Saturday and just prior to the IndyCar Series feature event on Sunday. The 17 entries will face the 1.755-mile, 11-turn temporary circuit that winds through the streets of the metropolitan city of Toronto.
Four drivers on the entry list are Canadian citizens. Parker Thompson, who is currently second in the Pro class driver standings, is a native of Red Deer, Alberta. Jeff Kingsley of the Toronto suburb of Ajax is making his first start of the season subbing for Mark Kvamme in the No. 43 MDK Motorsports Porsche. Thomas Collingwood, entered in the No. 69 BGB Motorsports Porsche, is from St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador. Marco Cirone will be behind the wheel of the Mark Motors Racing No. 84 on the city streets of his hometown.
TAG Heuer, a founding partner of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, will present the TAG Heuer Pole Award to the overall pole position winner at Toronto. This is the first time that the luxury watchmaker has provided the award to the driver who sets the fastest time in Saturday morning’s 30-minute qualifying session.
Pro Class (10 Entries): The top four challengers for the Pro class title will face off on the cement-lined walls of the street course and with increased pressure of the closing stages of the championship. Kay van Berlo has driven the No. 3 Kelly Moss machine to six victories in eight starts – including the two most recent rounds at Watkins Glen – to draw 47 points ahead of Thompson (No. 9 JDX Racing). Thompson’s two wins have given him a 25-point margin over third-place driver of the No. 53 Kelly Moss Porsche Riley Dickinson.
Van Berlo controlled the pole positions, fastest race laps and took both wins at Long Beach, California, the only other street circuit on the Carrera Cup schedule.
Pro Class Points Leaders: Van Berlo 199, Thompson 152, Dickinson 127, Estep 116, Leh Keen 79.
Pro-Am Class (5 Entries): Leading the class is Alan Metni with three wins in the No. 99 Kelly Moss machine – including a round on the streets at Long Beach. Narrowing the gap to Metni is Kelly Moss teammate and 2021 class champion Efrin Castro in the No. 65 Porsche. Castro also has three victories, including Round 8, giving him momentum coming to Toronto. The two leaders will gain substantially on their nearest competitors as Positions 3 through 5 have not entered to race in Toronto.
Only five points behind Castro is Justin Oakes (Houston, Texas) but the one-time winner is not coming to Canada. Fourth-place points holder Curt Swearingin (Chattanooga, Tennessee) and fifth-place Matt Halcome (Dallas, Georgia) will also not race this weekend.
Pro-Am Class Points Leaders: Metni 153, Castro 124, Justin Oakes 119, Curt Swearingin 103, Matt Halcome 94.
Am Class (2 Entries): Since debuting in the series at Sebring, Mark Kvamme has controlled the leading edge of the Am class. However, family obligations will keep the winner of five races away from the two rounds in Canada. This will give his nearest challenger, John Goetz (No. 57 Wright Motorsports) an opportunity to close the 33-point margin to Kvamme. Bill Smith (No. 42 Topp Racing) will be Goetz’s in-class competition.
Am Class Points Leaders: Kvamme 172, Goetz 139, Smith 138, Robert Hanley 94, Grady Willingham 83.