Daniel Morad wins thrilling opener at CTMP

Morad edged 2014 Platinum Cup champion Scott Hargrove by .308 of a second for his second career victory in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)-sanctioned spec series.

The top two drivers charged in lockstep throughout the 45-minute race, almost never separated by more than one-half of a second after Morad took the lead from pole sitter Hargrove with a bold outside move in the daunting Turn 1 at the start.

"That was one of the toughest races I've ever done," Morad declared after the podium ceremonies. "One year of experience of racing against Scott really helped. I'm starting to learn his trends, his patterns of how he takes certain things."

Series' rookie Zach Robichon, from Ottawa, finished third in his first sports car race in the No. 78 Mark Motors Racing Porsche. Three-time reigning Platinum Masters champion Marco Cirone, from Toronto, placed fourth and was the top Platinum Masters finisher in the No. 88 Mark Motors Racing Porsche.

Etienne Borgeat, from Montreal, rounded out the top five in the No. 2 GT Racing Porsche.

2011 Gold Cup champion Shaun McKaigue, from Gilford, Ontario, earned his first Gold Cup victory since 2014 in the No. 34 Fiorano Racing Porsche. Andrew Danyliw, from Toronto, won the Silver Cup class in the global Porsche single-make racing debut for the Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car. Fourteen drivers contested the race.

Round 2, a 45-minute race, will start at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.