One-Two Finish For Thompson as the Carrera Cup North America Championship Tightens at Road America

One-Two Finish For Thompson as the Carrera Cup North America Championship Tightens at Road America

Elkhart Lake, WI

Parker Thompson earned his third victory of the season and followed that up with a second-place finish in Rounds 11 & 12 of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands at Road America. The result sees the season championship race tighten dramatically with just four rounds remaining. Driving the No.9 machine of JDX Racing, Shell Tap-Up, Surgere, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and SSi Artificial Lift, Thompson sits second in the Pro-class standings, just sixteen points away from the championship lead.

After winning in the series’ visit to Road America in 2021, Thompson was a favorite again in 2022 and showed great pace in his opening laps around the 4.0-mile Wisconsin road course. Drama struck in Qualifying on Friday afternoon when a technical infraction by championship leader Kay Van Berlo and Kelly Moss Racing teammate Riley Dickinson disqualified the duo from the session. Thompson and the white, red, and yellow No.9 claimed an official lap record and pole position for races on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Thompson fully capitalized on his position at the front of the thirty-two car field when Race 1 began. The twenty-four-year-old Canadian drove a flawless race, leading from start to finish, claiming the fastest lap bonus, and earning twenty-eight out of a maximum twenty-eight points available.

Changing weather complicated Thompson’s effort for Race 2 on Sunday morning. With light rain expected for the duration of the 45-minute race, Thompson took a commanding lead when the race launched on a wet track. However, when the rain tapered off and the road surface began to dry, Thompson showed some challenges. He defended his lead valiantly for multiple laps but ultimately surrendered to the pace of MDK Motorsports driver Trenton Estep. He would hold second through to the checkered flag.

A win, a second-place finish, and bonuses for pole position and the fastest race lap contribute fifty points to Thompson’s 2022 campaign. That total matches his best weekend in the Carrera Cup North America series and is imposing in the context of other top drivers’ struggles. Thompson gained thirty-six points on the championship leader and now trails by just sixteen points.

From here, the series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 3rd and 4th, where Thompson will hope to draw closer still. The one-time Formula 1 circuit is only minutes from Thompson’s current home and a venue where he has earned wins in multiple series throughout his career.

Parker Thompson
“Lots of positives here at Road America – Our first pole position in the series and a big win in Race 1 yesterday! We would have loved to pair that with another win today, but the track conditions didn’t quite work out as planned. Nevertheless, we took a big step forward in the championship race. That’s what it’s all about! With just four races remaining, everyone on this team can feel our goal is within reach. Indianapolis Motor Speedway is next. We expect to have another weekend like this one!”

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

Event Results

CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA PRESENTED BY CAYMAN ISLANDS
ROUNDS 11 & 12 – Road America

Qualifying – Official (PDF)
Race 1 – Provisional (PDF)
Race 2 – Provisional (PDF)
Championship Standings – Provisional (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com

Dramatic Performance for Thompson as Racing Returns to The Streets of Toronto

Dramatic Performance for Thompson as Racing Returns to The Streets of Toronto

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

All eyes were on Canadian Parker Thompson as Carrera Cup North America made its first visit north of the border, as two races joined festivities at the 2022 Honda Indy Toronto. The twenty-four-year-old Alberta native entered the event as the top Canadian in the Carrera Cup series, holding second in the Pro-class season standings. With the spotlight shining brightly on him and the No.9 Porsche of JDX Racing, Shell Tap-Up, Surgere, Byer’s Porsche, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and SSi Artificial Lift, Thompson had two dramatic drives in front of a home crowd. The first of two races featured a thrilling charge by Thompson from the back of the field, while the second showed a hard-fought podium finish. The final results allow Thompson to maintain second in the overall Championship race with ten of sixteen rounds now complete.

From the weekend’s first laps, it was clear that Thompson would have his work cut out for him as he challenged the front of the field on the 2.7-km, 11-turn Streets of Toronto circuit. In Friday’s practice sessions he showed just the 5th and 4th best times. Overnight adjustments allowed Thompson and the white, red, and yellow No.9 to close in on the leaders in Saturday’s Qualifying session. He would post the third-quickest time in a tightly packed top four, earning starting positions on the inside of the second row for both races.

In the opening lap of Race 1 that afternoon, Thompson made an aggressive charge for the lead. With a strong launch past the green flag, he captured second place before turn one and positioned himself for an attack on pole-sitter Trenton Estep. Down the long back straight and into the crucial turn three, the two drivers created a gap against the rest of the field. Thompson made his attack there. Taking the inside line, he cleanly moved past the leader and back onto the racing line before the corner. 

Unfortunately, he misjudged his speed at the turn-in point. Instead of attempting the tight, hairpin corner, he bailed into the runoff area. When Thompson rejoined the opening lap, he was 24 seconds behind the entire field. From there, Thompson launched an exciting run back up the rankings. Through 32 laps, he gained nine spots, carefully measuring passes within the tight walls of the Streets of Toronto circuit. When the checkered flag fell, he sat in sixth.

Race 2 in Carrera Cup on Sunday afternoon took place within a condensed timeline after significant incidents in other Honda Indy Toronto events created a delayed start. Again, Thompson showed no hesitation and aggressively pursued positions on the opening lap. In turn one, the JDX Racing driver again made a pass for second place. However, instead of challenging the lead, he then found himself in a defensive position. Kelly Moss Racing driver, Riley Dickinson, showed excellent pace and a relentless attack on Thompson. Thompson countered each of Dickinson’s overtaking attempts in a battle that held watchers’ attention throughout the race. When the checkered flag fell after eighteen laps, the two were still tightly engaged, but neither had changed position. Thompson claimed the second step of the podium.

While the weekend brought Thompson’s first finish outside the top five this year, Sunday’s second-place finish and increasing parity between competitors allow Thompson to maintain his second place in the championship standings. With six races remaining, Thompson closes in on the leader slightly, now sitting 52 points from the top of the rankings. From here, the season moves to Road America on August 6 – 8, 2022. The Wisconsin road course is a personal favorite of Thompson and an event where he won in 2021. 

Parker Thompson
“After three years, it was incredible to be back racing on The Streets of Toronto. There is no doubt that my passion for this event shone through in my driving this weekend. We put ourselves in the middle of the action for both races. Early in Race 1, we nearly captured the lead but instead found ourselves off the track in Turn 3 and 24 seconds behind the back of the field. To be able to move back up to the sixth place and salvage some points is a testament to our performance here. In Race 2, we battled start to finish with some very fast competition and came home second. As always, the fans here showed up to make this an event I’ll never forget. We’re still second in the championship, and the standings are only getting tighter. We’ll be ready for more when the series arrives at Road America next month.”

Images credit @IGNITEMEDIAPHOTO

Event Results

CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA PRESENTED BY CAYMAN ISLANDS
ROUNDS 9 & 10 – STREETS OF TORONTO

Qualifying – Official (PDF)
Race 1 – Provisional (PDF)
Race 2 – Provisional (PDF)
Championship Standings – Provisional (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com

Parker Thompson and Porsche Racing Return to the Streets of Toronto

Parker Thompson and Porsche Racing Return to the Streets of Toronto

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

The Honda Toronto Indy has been a critical component of Parker Thompson’s race schedule since 2015. The daunting 2.8-km street circuit has provided a rare opportunity for the Alberta native to race in front of Canadian fans and has hosted some of his most exciting performances. Following cancellations of the event in 2020 and 2021, the Honda Toronto Indy is back in 2022. A full schedule of racing events is planned for July 15-17. Thompson returns as well, joining Rounds 9 and 10 of Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands as the premier one-make series joins the festivities.

Piloting the #9 Pro-class entry of JDX Racing / Shell Tap-Up / Surgere / Byers Porsche / Renier Construction / Jersey Mike’s Subs / SSi Artificial Lift, Thompson has proven to be a top contender for the 2022 Championship. With the season eclipsing its halfway mark leading into Toronto, Thompson and team JDX Racing sit second in the standings. With wins in two races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, six podium finishes, and no finishes outside of the top five, the duo has arguably been the series’ most consistent performers. In the second half of the season however, they will need to find a new level of performance to lock in their hopes for the 2022 championship title. If that performance can begin in front of Canadian fans at the Toronto event, that will be extra special for Thompson.

Parker Thompson
“This Toronto Indy weekend always gets a circle and a star on my calendar. I’ve had some incredible weekends here throughout my career – conquering an international field in my homeland in back-to-back years on the Road to Indy, then taking three podiums in two different series in 2019. I missed the event horribly in 2020 and 2021. Now we’re back! I’m excited to see the mark this incredible Canadian event will have on the Carrera Cup North America championship. It’s a great weekend to let the maple leaf fly!”

Event Information

2022 Carrera Cup North America
Streets of Toronto

Friday, July 15, 2022
Practice 1 >> 09:25 AM EST
Practice 2 >> 01:10 PM EST

Saturday, July 16, 2022
Qualifying >> 09:10 AM EST
Race 1 >> 03:30 PM EST

Sunday, July 17, 2022
Race 2 >> 01:30 PM EST

Flag-to-flag coverage of the race is available on https://porschecarreracup.us. Follow Parker throughout the weekend at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Thompson and SCM Earn Second Place Finish with Late Race Charge at CTMP

Thompson and SCM Earn Second Place Finish with Late Race Charge at CTMP

CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK, ONTARIO, CANADA

Alberta native Parker Thompson had a prominent performance, driving the No. 14 SCM Exelixis/Focal One/Alta Equipment Ligier JS P320 in Prototype Challenge as IMSA crossed the border into Canada for the first time since 2019. Sporting a livery featuring American stars and stripes and the Canadian maple leaf, Thompson and co-driver Lance Willsey were keen to make a mark on the holiday weekend festivities at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Last month, fueling issues spoiled an impressive performance by the pair in their debut together in Round 2 at Mid-Ohio. A strong result at CTMP would bring redemption and elevate the team’s position in the season’s points standings. Through a ninety-minute race on the historic Ontario road course, Thompson and Willsey accomplished precisely that, piloting their white, red, and blue SCM machine to a second-place finish.

The high-speed, undulating Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit presented a daunting challenge for much of the field after nearly a three-year absence from the IMSA schedule. Thompson however, entered the weekend with a stellar record on the track, showing eight career podiums and a total of four wins. On his first laps in Saturday’s Practice 1, he immediately appeared comfortable, setting a benchmark time for the Prototype Challenge field. Less familiar with the 3.957-kilometer, 10-turn road course, teammate Lance Willsey showed quick progress through practice sessions. When Qualifying launched on Sunday morning, Willsey earned an eighth position start.

Thompson, Willsey, and Sean Creech Motorsport shined when racing action began. From P8, Willsey made steady progress early in the race. When he entered the pits at the halfway mark, he had moved his way into fifth place. After the driver change and refueling, the team suffered a setback. Race officials deemed that Thompson had been released from the stop a half-second short of the minimum requirement. He was immediately called back into the pits for a stop-and-go penalty.
The No. 14 had dropped back to seventh place when Thompson re-entered the track. From there, he showed the dominant pace we had seen in May during Round 2 at Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. Navigating through the field, Thompson put together a series of laps that saw him set and reset the fastest racing lap multiple times, advancing his position to fourth. When a full-course-yellow was required late in the race, Thompson capitalized on the subsequent restart, capturing two spots to claim second place. Having already made significant advancements throughout his stint, Thompson had limited capacity to challenge the race lead. He held second through to the checkered flag.

 

Parker Thompson
“From start to finish, I’m so proud of our effort this weekend in Prototype Challenge. When Lance and I got together earlier this year, we felt we could challenge the front of the field. That didn’t quite pan out in our first event at Mid-Ohio, but I’m delighted that both of us put it together here at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. For me, it’s incredible to do it in Canada, where I haven’t had an opportunity to race in almost three years. I feel like the sum of my experiences showed in my performance here today – from the races earlier in my career here at this track to the frequent race restarts I’ve seen in Carrera Cup recently. Thank you to Sean Creech and Lance Willsey for allowing me this opportunity. With our finish this weekend, we can only do one better! In the future, I’d be honored to do exactly that.”

 

For the present, Thompson has his sights set on another significant Canadian event. He will reunite with JDX Racing when Carrera Cup North America visits the Honda Indy Toronto, July 15 – 17. Marking Carrera Cup’s first and only stop in Canada, the event is particularly significant to Thompson and JDX Racing team principal Jeremy Dale. Each has strong connections to the region. Currently sitting second in that season’s championship, the pair will look to advance their position in the standings by winning on the Streets of Toronto.

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

Event Results

2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge
Round 3 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Qualifying – Official (PDF)
Race – Provisional (PDF)
Fastest Lap by Driver (PDF)
Championship Standings – Provisional (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com

Thompson Rejoins SCM as the IMSA Prototype Challenge Visits Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Thompson Rejoins SCM as the IMSA Prototype Challenge Visits Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

For the first time since 2019, Canadian Parker Thompson will come home to race, joining Sean Creech Motorsport (SCM) for Round 3 of the 2022 IMSA Prototype Challenge at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). Thompson rejoins SCM after a strong performance with the team at Mid-Ohio last month in a race effort that was ultimately compromised by mechanical issues. At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Thompson and teammate Lance Willsey will look for a strong result to improve the team’s sixth-place position in the current IPC standings. The green flag will drop on Sunday, July 2nd, at 11:35 AM EST for a 90-minute race.

Thompson is no stranger to the historic Ontario road course. Through nine career races at CTMP in multiple series, Thompson has stood on the podium in all but one, earning four wins in the process. Driving the No. 14 SCM Exelixis/Focal One/Alta Equipment Ligier JS P320, Thompson is likely to clock a faster lap around the 3.957-kilometer, 10-turn circuit than he has in any other series to date. Still, after earning the quickest race lap and a new track record in his debut with SCM at Mid-Ohio, Thompson has proven he is more than up to the challenges that the IPC car and series present.

Parker Thompson
“I want to thank Sean Creech and Lance Willsey for inviting me to join them again for Round 3 of the IMSA Prototype Challenge. In my first race with the team, we performed well on track but didn’t get the result we deserved. I’m ecstatic that Lance and I have another opportunity together. The fact that this opportunity comes at a track like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and puts me back in front of Canadian fans for the first time in two years, makes this weekend even more special.”

 

About SCM

Team leader Sean Creech has competed in a multitude of sports car series from 1990 until the present day, including Group C, IMSA GTP, WSC, Grand-Am, SRO World Challenge, and IMSA. SCM will contest the full WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2022 with João Barbosa and Lance Willsey. http://seancreechmotorsport.com/

Event Information

IMSA Prototype Challenge at Chevrolet Grand Prix
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Saturday, July 2nd, 2022
10:15 AM EST – IPC Practice 1
02:05 PM EST – IPC Practice 2

Sunday, July 3rd, 2022
08:15 AM EST – IPC Qualifying
11:35 AM EST – IMSA Prototype Challenge at CTMP

Flag-to-flag coverage of the race is available to USA viewers on PeacockTV. International viewers can watch via IMSA.tv, with IMSA Radio also available at IMSA.com.Follow Parker throughout the weekend at https://parkerthompsonracing.com/live

Thompson Holds Second in 2022 CCNA Standings at Season Midway Point

Thompson Holds Second in 2022 CCNA Standings at Season Midway Point

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK

Intent on making a mark on the 2022 Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands, Parker Thompson and JDX Racing arrived at Watkin’s Glen International this weekend just twenty-two points back from the championship lead. After back-to-back wins in the last two rounds, Thompson and JDX Racing expected to challenge for wins in two races scheduled on the iconic New York road course. Instead, the duo struggled to find a rhythm and were further hampered by race incidents that countered team strategies. On the weekend, Thompson and the No. 9 JDX Racing / Shell Tap-Up / Surgere / Byers Porsche / Renier Construction / Jersey Mike’s Subs Porsche earned third and fourth-place finishes. The result allows Thompson to maintain second place in the overall points standings as the 2022 season reaches its halfway mark.

The white, red, and yellow No. 9 machine showed a robust pace in two test sessions on Thursday morning, clocking the third-best time in both sessions. When qualifying launched on Friday morning however, Thompson could not improve his placement in the field. He earned third and fourth place starting spots for Race 1 and 2, respectively. 

While Thompson and JDX Racing have yet to earn a pole position in the series, they have repeatedly shown an ability to advance their position during racing action. When Race 1 began on Friday afternoon, they looked to do precisely that. Equipping the No. 9 with their final available set of Michelin slicks, Thompson was poised to utilize the performance bonus of new tires to gain places early in the race. Unfortunately, a major opening-lap incident elsewhere in the field led to a lengthy clean-up and full-course caution. When green flag action resumed more than 20 minutes later, Thompson’s tire advantage had been wasted. He was unable to mount a meaningful attack on the race leaders, driving the No. 9 to the checkered flag in third place.

In Race 2 on Saturday morning, Thompson started in fourth and put up a good fight for the final podium position. His best opportunity came on lap eight following a race restart when he got a great run out of turn four, passing MDK Motorsports driver Trenton Estep under braking as the pair entered the Bus Stop. Unfortunately, Thompson would give the position up shortly after and carry fourth through to the end of the race.

Race 2’s result marks only the second time in eight races this season where Thompson has failed to finish on the podium. In both cases, he missed the podium by just one position. Consistency has allowed the young Canadian to stay within striking distance of the overall championship lead despite winning fewer races than the overall leader. With eight races now complete and eight yet remaining in the season schedule, Thompson and JDX Racing prepare to make a run for the top spot. Next up, the series heads north of the border to Thompson’s home country and the Honda Indy Toronto, July 15-17, 2022.

Parker Thompson
“Rounds 7 & 8 of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Championship at Watkins Glen were not what the No.9 JDX Racing crew had hoped for, with a lack of pace bringing us a P3 and P4 finish. In simple terms, we got our butts kicked. But this only adds fuel to the fire for this Championship, and the war is only halfway through. We’re sitting in a comfortable 2nd place, ready to put the pressure on as the series heads to my homeland in mid-July!”

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

Event Results

CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA PRESENTED BY CAYMAN ISLANDS
ROUNDS 7 & 8 – WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL

Qualifying – Official (PDF)
Race 1 – Official (PDF)
Race 2 – Official (PDF)
Championship Standings – Provisional (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com