Double Podium for Kenny at Scorching COTA

The penultimate round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America took place at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA ), Austin, Texas over the weekend. With temperatures in the mid 40’s conditions were extremely challenging.

With testing taking place on Thursday and Friday Aidan qualified the #222 ACI Motorsports Porsche 992 on the front row with a P2 grid spot for race one on Saturday.

With a field of 34 identical Porsche 992 GT3 Cup cars taking the start the packed grid arrived at turn one almost four wide with Aidan being nudged back to P3, by lap two Aidan passed the #289 to take second place and set about closing the gap to the lead car but a full course yellow was required for a multi car accident. With the field now bunched up racing resumed with 15 minutes left on the clock but after only one lap another full course yellow was shown for another accident. Racing resumed with just one lap remaining and Aidan crossed the line in P2 just one second behind the leader.

Race two on Sunday was equally as hot and with Aidan again starting from P2. This time Aidan held position into turn one and tried to hang on to the lead car for the opening laps. By lap eleven Aidan had built an 8 second gap to P3 but was struggling slightly with car handling and could not close the gap to P1. A full course yellow was required neutralising the race and bunching up the field. The green flag waved with just 3 laps remaining and Aidan was determined to hang on to the leader despite having to defend from the cars behind, but unfortunately ran out of time crossing the line in P2.

Aidan Kenny

“This was by far the most extreme temperatures I have ever raced in but my fitness for sure helped me. It wasn’t the result we wanted but two second place podiums was the best I could do this weekend and the points strengthens our championship position in P2. We have another round at Indianapolis where it will be cooler, and I will do my best to get the job done there”.