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 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

Thompson Sweeps Carrera Cup North America Weekend at Monterey

Thompson Sweeps Carrera Cup North America Weekend at Monterey

WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA, MONTEREY, CA

This weekend, Parker Thompson earned wins in two out of two races as Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands visited WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Driving the No.9 JDX Racing machine of Shell Tap-Up, Surgere, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s, and SSi Artificial Lift, Thompson leveraged strong performances on the opening laps to earn the lead. He fended off all challengers on each day, taking the checkered flag and valuable points. Sweeping both races, Thompson maintains second in the overall standings, tightening his approach on the championship lead.

The white, red, and yellow No.9 JDX Racing Porsche led all but one lap of racing throughout the weekend – an admirable accomplishment after traffic thwarted Thompson’s best opportunities during Qualifying. Furiously navigating other drivers on track, Thompson managed just the third-best lap of the Laguna Seca circuit during the session. While he did not earn the pole position, Thompson emphatically dominated the most critical sections of the eleven-turn road course all weekend.

In turn two on the opening lap of Race 1, Thompson boldly chose the outside line, taking the second position and immediately mounting a challenge on pole-sitter and leader Trenton Estep. Estep and Thompson jostled back and forth through the opening lap before Thompson made a pass that would stick for the entire race. With an excellent run out of the Andretti Hairpin, turn 2, he cleanly took Estep on the inside of the sweeping turn 3.

For Race 2, Thompson lined up on the front row with Kelly Moss Racing driver Riley Dickinson. Thompson began on used tires versus Dickinson, who had reserved a fresh set of rubber for his pole-position start. Again Thompson showed great strength in the early stages, taking the lead through the Andretti Hairpin with a clean move on the outside. Dickinson remained close behind. Throughout 40-minutes, the two drivers were separated by less than a second. Thompson however, seemed to show his best pace in sections of the Laguna Seca circuit most conducive to passing. Dickinson never uncovered an opportunity to make a move, and when lap traffic added a new variable to the battle late in the race, Thompson again showed appropriate poise. He would take the checkered flag without incident.

Two wins for Thompson and JDX Racing make a strong statement in this 2022 Carrera Cup North America Championship. While the result marks the duo’s first weekend sweep, the accomplishment is not unexpected. With three wins in 2021, Thompson is one of three drivers who have earned a first-place finish in the Carrera Cup series since it arrived in North America. Early in the 2022 season, Thompson and JDX cleanly navigated events at Sebring and Long Beach, capturing podiums in three out of four races. Now, two wins at the famed WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca have firmly placed them in contention for the overall championship. Action resumes June 24th from Watkins Glen International.

Parker Thompson
“Without question, the first thing I have to do is thank the whole JDX Racing team. Their continued belief in me and their work effort to support our campaign is second to none. It always seems that when we need to dig deeper as a team and find a way to improve, that is precisely what we do. Sweeping the weekend at one of the most iconic tracks in North America is a testament to the strength of this team. Thanks to my engineer Luke, and my crew Larry and Darryl, The No.9 Shell Tap-Up machine was absolutely on rails. They didn’t put a wrench wrong, and I didn’t put a foot wrong. Our end goal is still on the horizon, and we will need more weekends like this to make that goal a reality! I can’t forget our fantastic partners in Byers Porsche, Surgere, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and SSI Artificial Lifts – Without them, we can not make this magic happen. Next stop, New York!”

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

IMSA 2022 CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA
Rounds 5 – 6, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

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

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com

Thompson Moves to 2nd in CCNA Standings After Long Beach Performance

Thompson Moves to 2nd in CCNA Standings After Long Beach Performance

LONG BEACH, CA

With over four decades of rich history, the Grand Prix of Long Beach has earned a reputation for providing exciting racing regardless of series. Making their first-ever visit to the event, thirty-four spec Porsche race cars of the Carrera Cup North America presented by Cayman Islands displayed the compelling but unforgiving character of the two-mile street course. Also participating in his first race at the circuit, Canadian driver Parker Thompson entered the weekend looking to make an impression on the 2022 CCNA championship. Driving the No.9 machine of JDX Racing/Shell Tap-up/Surgere, Thompson took second-place and fourth-place finishes through two tumultuous races – earning enough points to seize second in the championship standings to date.

The Grand Prix of Long Beach event launched on Friday with early challenges for Thompson and JDX Racing. Through opening practice sessions, the duo struggled to match time with other series’ front runners. In Qualifying, they posted just the fifth-best time – over half a second off of pole position. Starting Race 1 from the third row on the tightly walled circuit presented a substantial hurdle to Thompson’s hopes for the weekend.

However, in the close traffic of that race start, Thompson demonstrated the racecraft that has made him a strong contender race after race. With excellent car positioning, he captured two places as other competitors jostled through the opening corners of the race. After an incident deep in the field and a short caution, Thompson found himself under attack from MDK Motorsports driver Trenton Estep on the race restart. For eight laps, Estep and Thompson had perhaps the most exciting battle of the contest. The two changed places multiple times before an error from Estep saw him leave the racecourse in Turn 1.

With the third-place position then solidified, Thompson was presented with a surprising opportunity. Race leaders Van Berlo and Dickinson simultaneously spun at the circuit hairpin when they encountered fluid on track at the scene of an incident. While Van Berlo recovered quickly, Dickinson did not and was forced to surrender his second-place position. Green flag action did not resume before the race timer expired.

In Race 2, Thompson once again capitalized on early jostling amongst the leaders, improving his fifth-place starting position by one in the opening corner. Mid-race, Thompson pressured the cars ahead with a strong pace, but multiple incidents of full-course-yellow stymied any opportunity to mount a successful charge. With 13 of 23 race laps run under caution, a compelling opportunity came for Thompson when the green flag flew for just a single lap at the race end. Thompson pressured fellow Road to Indy veteran TJ Fischer for the final podium position but unfortunately did not find sufficient opportunity to overtake him in just a single lap.

Carefully navigating through perilous racing action on the Long Beach Street Circuit and earning two strong finishes on the weekend, Thompson demonstrated his skillset on track and a big-picture approach to the season championship. With four races out of sixteen now completed, he has created a small cushion in the points standings – holding second with a gap greater than twenty points. That cushion might give Thompson the wherewithal to mount a charge on championship leader Kay Van Berlo. The two have an intense rivalry dating back to 2021 but have yet to find an opportunity to battle each other directly in this new season.

Parker Thompson
“It was an extremely hard-fought weekend of racing for us here at Long Beach. To come away with two solid finishes and move upwards in the championship standings is a massive positive for me and the team at JDX Racing. After our performance at the first event in Sebring, we had some good notes to help us going forward. Again, here in Long Beach, we are coming out of the event stronger. Next up, we visit WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. That’s all we’re thinking about now. Special thanks go to Shell Tap-Up, Surgere IoT, Byers Porsche, Renier Construction, Jersey Mike’s, and SSi Artificial Lift. Each of our partners shares our same goal for this year. I’m so honored to be a part of their efforts in this Carrera Cup North America Championship.”

Images credit Bob Chapman / Autosport Image

IMSA 2022 CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA
Rounds 3 – 4, Long Beach Street Circuit

Qualifying – Official (PDF)
Race 1 – Official (PDF)
Race 2 – Official (PDF)
Overall Standings – Official (PDF)

Complete results are available at results.imsa.com