Kavana Cup Competition Heats Up with Racers Setting Sights on Watkins Glen Weekend

Kavana Cup Competition Heats Up with Racers Setting Sights on Watkins Glen Weekend

With over half of the 2019 season now in the books, the battles for Kavana Cup honors continue to heat up as Blancpain GT World Challenge America, Pirelli GT4 America, and TC America competitors now set their sights on the Watkins Glen International race weekend, August 30-September 1.

A performance-based award, the Kavana Cup features a total prize purse of $500,000 for competitors completing a set of objectives including pole positions, fastest race laps, and weekend race win sweeps – $250,000 will be awarded to the winner in the Blancpain GT World Challenge America series, while $150,000 will go to Pirelli GT4 America national series (Sprint or SprintX) winners, and $100,000 to the TC America winner. To win these prestigious awards racers will need to complete the following performance benchmarks: drivers must sweep each both rounds of a race weekend at least five 5x events, one of the weekend sweeps must be the Season Finale in Las Vegas, drivers must earn seven fastest laps of the race during the season and finally, drivers must also earn seven pole positions during the season.

Heading into the Watkins Glen weekend, the GT World Challenge America K-PAX Racing team of Andy Soucek and Alvaro Parente are atop the leaderboard having secured four poles, and two Fastest SHYFTER laps so far this season.

In GT4, Spencer Pumpelly, leads the Sprint Pro category with five poles and four fastest SHYFTER laps to date, while Jarett Andretti leads the GT4 Am category with two poles, one weekend sweep and one fastest SHYFTER race lap. Drew Staveley has secured two poles and two Fastest SHYFTER laps, while completing one race weekend sweep.

In the TC America class, Nick Wittmer has had an impressive season to date and holds the lead in TCA with four poles, two race victory sweeps and five fastest SHYFTER laps, while Tyler Maxson is chasing with two poles, one race weekend sweep and two fastest SHYFTER laps. In TC, Johan Schwartz has three poles, two race weekend sweeps and one fastest SHYFTER laps.

At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, several drivers added their names for Kavana Cup contention. In GT3, Patrick Long / Scott Hargrove (Pro) secured a weekend pole position while Rodrigo Baptista / Maxime Soulet (Pro) and Anthony Imperato / Dennis Olsen (Pro/Am) claimed the fastest SHYFTER laps. In GT4 Sprint, Nicolai Elghanayan and Alan Brynjolfsson scored the poles while Brynjolfsson also had one of the fastest laps along with Gar Robinson.

At Sonoma, Michael Cooper added his name into contention with a trifecta in GT4 Sprint Race 1 securing the pole, fastest lap and win. Team Panoz driver Ian James had the fastest lap in race 2. In TC America competition, Mason Filippi (TCR, Race 1), Tyler Maxson (TCA, Race 1), Cameron Evans (TC, Race 2) and Mark Pompo (TCA, Race 2) put their names on the board with their poles. Filippi also added to his total with the trifecta in race 2 (pole, win, fastest lap).

Staying out west, GT4 and TC America competitors had the opportunity to add to their totals or enter the competition with good performances at Portland International Raceway. Chris Haldeman put his name on the board with a TCA pole for Race 1.

Follow series action at Watkins Glen – GT races will be streamed live on gt-world-challenge-america.com, as well as broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, while GT4 races will be streamed live on gt4-america.com and via audio simulcast on SiriusXM satellite radio Ch. 383 (983 on the app). Follow TC America races streamed live on TCAmerica.us.




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Blancpain - Innovation is our Tradition

Since 1735, Blancpain has been contributing to the development of mechanical watchmaking, while conserving the traditional skills of its founder

Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit.

From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive Levolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the Women models.

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Pirelli – Official Tyre Supplier

Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.

Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world. The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of GT racing while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past.The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.

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SRO Motorsports Group – The global leader in GT racing

With more than 25 years’ experience at the forefront of a continuously evolving industry, SRO Motorsports Group is the established international leader in GT racing.

Best known for the development and implementation of the GT3 and GT4 regulations, SRO promotes and organises championships that embrace professional and amateur competitors. Its portfolio of highly regarded series spans Europe, America and Asia, while its flagship Intercontinental GT Challenge features events on five different continents.

The 2019 season will see more than 100 races run under the SRO Motorsports Group banner, highlighted by the prestigious Total 24 Hours of Spa. In addition to promotion and organisation, the company operates SRO Race Centre by MMC – a high-level technical centre at Circuit Paul Ricard – and provides the ultimate driving opportunities at world-renowned facilities through Curbstone Track Events.

SRO Motorsports Group is chaired by company founder and CEO Stephane Ratel. With offices in London, Paris, Liège and Hong Kong, its work is facilitated by a dedicated global team of full-time and freelance staff.

Combining a passion for performance with industry-leading experience, SRO is ready to play a key role in shaping the future of international GT racing.