MId Weekend Press Release from Road America
MId Weekend Press Release from Road America
Steve Jenkins Sweeps Opening Cayman Interseries Races at the Vintage GT Challenge at Road America
Sunday, May 16, 2010
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (May 16, 2010) – Steve Jenkins picked up right where he left off two weeks ago at Road Atlanta in the Cayman Interseries with back-to-back victories Friday and Saturday at the Vintage GT Challenge at Road America. Jenkins also scored a pair of wins at Road Atlanta and heads into the final day of the Vintage GT Challenge today at Road America now riding a streak of four victories in the last five Cayman Interseries races. The full weekend schedule of Cayman Interseries and historic and vintage racing action at the classic Elkhart Lake road course is an HSR/SVRA double-header.
Racing on the giant four-mile Road America road course that he and many of his fellow Chicago-based drivers consider their home track, Jenkins began his near-perfect weekend by winning the pole in Friday’s qualifying. He then drove his No. 36 red and white Salzburg Porsche 917 liveried Cayman S to a solo victory in that afternoon’s two-hour enduro race while finishing second overall. His fastest race lap of 2:30.8 was less than a second slower than his qualifying time.
"I love Road America and the Cayman Interseries,” Jenkins said. “There are long straights between most of the corners and this nice cool weather made it a lot easier to do the whole two-hour race by myself. This is a really great start to the weekend and this is the closest track to my home that I will race on this year. I have some friend and my sponsors from B.R.M Watches coming up for the rest of the weekend, so I hope to continue the success for them as the weekend progresses.”
Lee Davis, who races with sponsorship from Luna C Clothing, co-drove his red and black No. 333 Advan Porsche 962 themed Cayman S with Ryan Eversley to a second-place finish. Jonny Ryan continued his recent string of strong showings in Cayman Interseries competition with a third place showing in his No. 41 Cayman that carries the gold and while colors of Al Holbert Racing’s Miller High Life Porsche 962. Jim Bacus, another Chicago driver, finished fourth in his No. 3 purple and green Cayman modeled after the famous Martini “Hippy” Porsche 917LH. Road racing legend and Cayman Interseries chief driving coach and competition director Jack Baldwin co-drove with Bacus.
Jenkins continued his solid weekend in Saturday’s morning qualifying session with a new Cayman Interseries track record of 2:28.6. He then promptly went out and won the first of the weekend’s two sprint races Saturday afternoon.
"It was great to have such a successful day here again on Saturday,” said Jenkins, who is also sponsored by LAPS, Incorporated. “I have my sponsors from B.R.M Watches on hand here today, so the pressure was on to give them a good show, and I was glad I could do that!"
Jim McCormick, the year’s only other double race winner, finished second in the Saturday sprint in his No. 44 Cayman S modeled after the famous Martini “Baby” Porsche 935. McCormick swept all three weekend races during the season-opening event at Sebring International Raceway in March.
Ryan joined Jenkins in doubling up on podiums and finished third for the second consecutive day in the sprint. He is off to a great start in the 2010 season and races with his father Rod Ryan in a pair of Caymans that pay tribute to Al Holbert’s winning Porsche 962s. The elder Ryan pilots a Cayman carrying the famous markings and number of Holbert and the No. 14 Lowenbrau 962.
Davis finished fourth in the Saturday sprint and Bacus rounded out the top five.
Cayman Interseries action at the Vintage GT Challenge concludes later today with the second of the weekend’s two sprint races scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.
Created, owned and operated by Napleton Porsche, the Cayman Interseries is open only to 2009 and 2010 Porsche Cayman S models that are raced in near-stock configuration by a competitive group of emerging drivers that typically own the cars they drive. A heritage connection comes in the form of each Cayman’s livery that has a direct and visible link to a legendary Porsche race car from the past. Only in the Cayman Interseries can you see modern interpretations of such famous Porsche race cars as the Wyer/Gulf, Martini and Salzburg 917s, the Al Holbert Lowenbrau and Miller High Life 962s, the Jagermeister/Kremer and Dick Barbour Racing 935s, the Bob Akin/Coca-Cola 935 and 962 and so many more.
Each Cayman’s throw-back color scheme is also matched up with a corresponding Cayman chassis number, which means the rich history of some of the most memorable Porsche race cars to ever hit the track will symbolically continue with an all-new chapter in the Cayman Interseries. Napleton Porsche is the exclusive supplier and preparation shop for the Porsche Cayman S race cars used in the Interseries.
ABOUT THE CAYMAN INTERSERIES
Established in 2009 by Napleton Porsche of Westmont, Illinois, the Cayman Interseries is North America’s only auto racing championship featuring the exclusive use of the 320-horsepower Porsche Cayman S. Sanctioned by Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), the Cayman Interseries is conducting its first official season in 2010 and will crown a pair of champion drivers in both the sprint and endurance racing formats. Races will be run on legendary circuits such as Daytona, Sebring, Road America, Watkins Glen, Road Atlanta and other premier venues. Every competing Porsche Cayman S is exclusively supplied and prepared by Napleton Porsche and each car competes with an assigned and specific heritage livery themed after a famous Porsche race car from the past. Learn more about the Cayman Interseries at www.napletonmotorsports.com. Phone calls direct to Napleton Porsche may be made at (630) 725-0911 and email inquiries can be sent to racing@napletonmotorsports.com.
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