RED DEER, AB (April 27, 2022)- Earlier this month, we passed the quarter-way mark of the 2022 Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands.
With second and fourth-place finishes at the Grand Prix of Long Beach, we’ve earned a total of three podium finishes in four races this season. As we expected from this Porsche series – we’re in a dog fight. If you haven’t tuned in on race weekend, you’ve missed some great racing for those podium positions. The No.9 JDX Racing / Shell Tap-Up / Surgere Porsche and I are currently second in the overall standings.
To take the top spot, we must find opportunities to improve continuously. Even after an entire season with this car, I’m excited that we are still learning new things. Whether it’s me behind the wheel or the engineer and team behind the car, we’re only getting better. Every weekend presents unique challenges, but I believe that if we can keep this up, then rewards will find us.
The challenges for this weekend await at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. With massive elevation changes and the Corkscrew corners, Laguna Seca is known to even casual motorsports fans worldwide. The Corkscrew is famous for blindly dropping six stories through a quick-left-right-left. Located at the end of the circuit’s fastest straight, it also presents a critical braking trial.
Having raced at Laguna multiple times with the Road to Indy, I fully appreciate all eleven turns of the 2.2-mile road course. I’ve stood on the podium here three times, including a drive from 10th to 2nd in 2019 with Indy Pro 2000. A field of Porsche sports cars will mean a very different race for me this time around. If things look anything like they did in 2019 though, you won’t want to miss it, and I’ll probably take a bonus day of golf in the week that follows.
We’re on track from Friday, with races on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Following along is easier than ever. You can connect with live timing and race coverage through the PTR Live section on my website. If you already have a busy weekend ahead and can’t get to your couch or TV, you can find highlights and more on my social media channels. Don’t hesitate to say hello and share your thoughts!
See you on the other side!
PARKER THOMPSON
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