Just a few weeks ago, the curtain came down on the inaugural Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada – a series that brought a well-known and respected global series back to the original home of Porsche one-make racing.

Perry Bortolotti, Shaun McKaigue and Robert Seitz, won the Platinum, Gold and Silver classes. Giovanni Panico of Fiorano Racing did the preparation, engineering and strategy for the Bortolotti and McKaigue race cars and all three class winners were sponsored by SpeedMerchants Motorsports of Kanata, ON.

The series came together a mere four weeks prior to the drop of the first green flag. Thanks in no small part to the hard work of IMSA, the series sanctioning body, and Michelin, the official tire supplier, the series got underway at Calabogie in May and moved to Circuit ICAR, outside of Montreal, in June.

The excitement of the teams who participated in the inaugural season of the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada was obvious as well.

“I want to congratulate Perry Bortolotti, who won the Platinum class; Shaun McKaigue, who won the Gold class; and Robert Seitz, who won the Silver class,” said Jim Hoddinott, owner of SpeedMerchants Motorsports. “It has been one heck of a year and the quality of the racing and the level of ability of the drivers improved as the season progressed. We are already preparing for next year, with plans to enter six cars next season – and have already purchased the car Perry Bortolotti drove at the Carrera World Cup at the Nurburgring this year.”

He added: "Giovanni Panico's training, motivation and leadership leaves all of us in his debt and deserves our greatest respect and gratitude."

Bortolotti won three of the first four races of the year and was invited to be Canada’s standard-bearer at the prestigious event, which drew over 100 drivers from every continent but Antarctica.

“I think this year is the very essence of a win – win situation,” said Lawrence. “Perry Bortolotti emerges as a driving talent; the fans are really jazzed about the series and the closeness of the racing and Canada, the country that gave birth to Porsche one-make racing, finally has its series back. I can’t wait for next year!”

The season’s overall champion will be presented with a Tudor Heritage Chronograph, to be provided by Rolex Canada at an upcoming awards banquet.