The 2017 Pirelli World Challenge season is the twenty-eighth consecutive year for the championship. There are five race weekends. The Grand Touring category title chase kicks-off in March at Saint Petersburg. This event is followed by races at Long Beach, Road America and Mid-Ohio. The finale takes place at Sonoma in mid-September.

As in the previous year, there were three Grand Touring categories:

  • Grand Touring (GT) – This is the series quickest class and includes cars that predominantly fall into the FIA GT3 category. These are two-wheel drive vehicles that may use normally aspirated or turbocharged engines which produce approximately 500 horsepower. Examples of cars competing in this category include: Porsche 911 GT3 R, Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, Mercedes AMG GT3, McLaren 650S GT3, Cadillac ATS-V.R GT3, Acura NSX GT3, Bentley Continental GT3 and Ferrari 488 GT3.
  • Grand Touring Sportsman (GTA) – This class includes the same vehicles as GT, however, the drivers are not considered professionals. Competitors in this category are evaluated after each event and based on their performance may be elevated to the GT class.
  • Grand Touring Cup (GTC) – The GT Cup class was originally for 2015-2016 Porsche 991 GT Cup cars. It now includes vehicles from other spec series – the Lamborghini Super Trofeo and Ferrari Challenge championships.

    Rounds six and seven of the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Grand Touring season took place during the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio presented by Honda Racing. Twenty-three cars competed in the two fifty-minute races around Mid-Ohio’s 2.258-mile thirteen-turn road course.

  • The first lap of Sunday’s event and the pole-sitter, Patrick Long in the Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R leads the field into ‘The Carousel’. Behind the GT point’s leader is the McLaren 650S GT3 of Alvaro Parente. Parente was gridded fourth but when his teammate, Bryan Sellers spun on the pace lap he inherited third and a pass on Kyle Marcelli gave him second. He got by Long and went on to take the win.
    Alvaro Parente entered Mid-Ohio second in the GT Driver standings – seventeen points behind the leader, Patrick Long. By the end of the weekend, the driver of the No. 9 K-PAX McLaren 650S GT3 had closed the gap to within five markers. Parente’s two victories at Mid-Ohio should give him the momentum he needs to challenge Long for the title in the series finale at Sonoma.
    The GT Cup class was poorly subscribed - only two entries – the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo of Japanese driver, Yuki Harata and from Serbia, Marko Radisic racing a Ferrari Challenge Evo. The category point’s leader, Preston Calvert, chose to participate in GTA this weekend. Harata dominated rounds five and six – starting from the pole, setting the fastest race and taking a pair of victories. He now led the standings.
    Patrick Long driving the Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche 911 GT3 R entered Mid-Ohio with the points lead. Contributing to his place at the top of the standings were victories at round two (St. Petersburg) and five (Road America). At Mid-Ohio, Long started and finished the weekend’s first event in fifth place. The following day he was on the pole and captured the runner-up spot. Long maintained the point lead heading into the finale.
    The GTA leader, James Sofronas, had a good weekend at Mid-Ohio. When Alec Udell was promoted to the GT category, Sofronas moved to the top in the class standings. He increased his gap over Audi driver, John Potter with victories at Long Beach and Road America. Despite pressure from Michael Schein, he won both rounds at Mid-Ohio. Sofronas’ championship lead increased from eighteen to thirty-three points.
    The round seven Pirelli World Challenge Grand Touring podium at Mid-Ohio. On the right is second place finisher and current point’s leader, Patrick Long and at the left is Alec Udell who earned his first Grand Touring podium. Between these two is the winner, Alvaro Parente. Parente swept the weekend taking victories on Saturday and Sunday.
    Four-time series champion, Johnny O’Connell was gridded third for round six. The driver of the No. 3 Cadillac ATS-V.R maintained his position to the checkered flag. On Sunday, O’Connell’s fastest lap from the preceding day gave him the sixth starting position. O’Connell was fourth when he made contact with a hard charging Alec Udell at ‘The Keyhole’ and spun. He fell down the order but was able to finish eleventh.
    A personal commitment prevented, Michael Schein from participating in rounds four and five at Road America. Despite runner-up finishes in the first three events, his absence for two races left him fourth in the GTA standings. At Mid-Ohio, he challenged James Sofronas for the victory but was second both days. However, Schein’s performance moved him to within ten-points of third place, Tim Pappas.
    Based on his performance in the first two rounds, Alec Udell was promoted from the GTA class to GT. Udell entered Mid-Ohio seventh in the title chase – nine-points behind Bryan Sellers. In the weekend’s first race, he started eleventh in the GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and finished eighth. Sunday went much better for Udell as he captured the final spot on the podium and was now tied with Sellers in the standings.
    GTA competitor, Tim Pappas drove the No. 54 Mercedes AMG GT3. To date, Pappas’ best result was a third in the previous rounds at Road America. In Saturday’s race, he started fourth in class and was battling with Pablo Perez Companc for third. When Perez Companc spun the pressure was off and he took the final podium position. On Sunday, the same scenario was playing out but Pappas spun on the last lap and finished fifth.
    Cadillac ATS-V.R driver, Michael Cooper was, leading SprintX standings with his co-driver, Jordan Taylor. In the GT category, Cooper was fourth after five rounds – just a single point behind his teammate, Johnny O’Connell. At Mid-Ohio, his results were mixed. On Saturday, Cooper captured the runner-up spot and the following day he was seventh. However, his finishes moved him to third - ahead of O’Connell.
    Argentinian, Pablo Perez Companc drove the No. 69 Mercedes AMG GT3 prepared by Champ 1. To date, Perez Companc had only competed in two races – round two at St. Petersburg and the third event in the championship at Long Beach. He showed great promise at Mid-Ohio. Perez Companc battled with Tim Pappas for third on Saturday but a spin dropped him to last in class. He rebounded the following day and was third in GTA.
    Sunday’s GTA podium at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. On the right, driving a Wright Motorsports prepared Porsche is second place finisher, Michael Schein. To the left and earning his podium finish of the season is Pablo Perez Companc. In the center is point’s leader, James Sofronas, who like Alvaro Parente and Yuki Harata, left Mid-Ohio with two victories.

    FINISHCLASSDRIVERENTRANT / CARLAPS
    1GT ProAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT336
    2GT ProMichael CooperCadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R36
    3GT ProJohnny O'ConnellCadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R36
    4GT ProBryan SellersK-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT336
    5GT ProPatrick LongWright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    6GT ProKyle MarcelliFerri Motorsports / Ferrari 488 GT336
    7GT ProRyan DalzielCRP Racing / Mercedes AMG GT336
    8GT ProAlec UdellGMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    9GT ProDaniel MancinelliTR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT336
    10GT ProRyan EversleyRealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT336
    11GT ProJon FogartyGainsco/Bob Stallings Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    12GT ProSpencer PumpellyMagnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS36
    13GT AmJames SofronasGMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    14GT AmMichael ScheinWright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    15GT AmTim PappasBlack Swan Racing / Mercedes AMG GT336
    16GT AmJohn PotterMagnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS36
    17GT AmJorge De La TorreDe La Torre Racing / Aston Martin Vantage GT336
    18GT ProPeter KoxRealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT336
    19GT ProPreston CalvertCalvert Dynamics / Porsche 911 GT3 R35
    20GT Cup AmYuki HarataDream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan34
    21GT AmMike McCannMcCann Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS29
    22GT AmPablo Perez CompancChamp 1 / Mercedes AMG GT324
    23GT Cup AmMarko RadisicPrecision Driving / Ferrari Challenge Evo15

    FINISHCLASSDRIVERENTRANT / CARLAPS
    1GT ProAlvaro ParenteK-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT336
    2GT ProPatrick LongWright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    3GT ProAlec UdellGMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    4GT ProKyle MarcelliFerri Motorsports / Ferrari 488 GT336
    5GT ProDaniel MancinelliTR3 Racing / Ferrari 488 GT336
    6GT ProPeter KoxRealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT336
    7GT ProMichael CooperCadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R36
    8GT ProRyan EversleyRealTime Racing / Acura NSX GT336
    9GT ProRyan DalzielCRP Racing / Mercedes AMG GT336
    10GT ProBryan SellersK-PAX Racing / McLaren 650S GT336
    11GT ProJohnny O'ConnellCadillac Racing / Cadillac ATS-V.R36
    12GT AmJames SofronasGMG Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    13GT AmMichael ScheinWright Motorsports / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    14GT AmPablo Perez CompancChamp 1 / Mercedes AMG GT336
    15GT ProJon FogartyGainsco/Bob Stallings Racing / Porsche 911 GT3 R36
    16GT AmJohn PotterMagnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS36
    17GT AmTim PappasBlack Swan Racing / Mercedes AMG GT336
    18GT AmJorge De La TorreDe La Torre Racing / Aston Martin Vantage GT335
    19GT AmMike McCannMcCann Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS35
    20GT ProSpencer PumpellyMagnus Racing / Audi RS 8 LMS35
    21GT Cup AmYuki HarataDream Racing / Lamborghini Huracan34
    22GT ProPreston CalvertCalvert Dynamics / Porsche 911 GT3 R34
    23GT Cup AmMarko RadisicPrecision Driving / Ferrari Challenge Evo33

    Copyright Notice:
    All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.

    © Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017


    Return to home page.