Priaulx solid second in race two after perfect opener
DUTCHMAN Kay Van Berlo passed Kelly-Moss Road and Race teammate Seb Priaulx on the opening lap and drove away to a 4.338-second victory in the closing race of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America’s debut weekend.
The young Guernseyman had made the perfect start to life in the Porsche Carrera Cup by winning the opening race, but the roles were reversed in the second as the talented young Dutchman showed his worth.
After domination of practice and qualifying the 20-year-old Guernsey driver claimed a lights-to-flag victory in the opening round at the Sebring International Raceway.
Priaulx drove a steady race to hold off van Berlo, who was tucked up under his wing throughout.
In race two, the two Kelly-Moss drivers were in a class of their own and there was a 10sec. gap between Priaulx and third-placed Riley Dickinson of Team Hardpoint EBM.
Thirty-three drivers finished.
The Carrera Cup North America is the highest single-make platform in the Porsche Motorsport pyramid in North America that offers a path for competitors from the grassroots of motorsport to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
The series utilises the latest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car, type 992 and with all national Carrera Cups worldwide, the inaugural season of the championship is scheduled to host 16 rounds.
Each 45-minute race counts toward a season-long driver and team championship in each of three classes: Pro, Pro-Am and Pro-Am 991.
Priaulx and van Berlo now have to wait until 22 May to resume their battle as the series heads north of the border into Canada.
Domestically, road racing returns next Saturday with the first of this season’s Vazon Sprints followed, on Sunday, by autocross racing at Chouet from 11am.
