GT3 Cup: Mosport round nine, ten race notes

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario August 24 -- Bob Faieta, Tujunga, Calif., won both Platinum Cup IMSA Challenge by Michelin races in his 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car at Mosport International Raceway. Tony Rivera, Houston, Texas, won the Gold Cup class both days, winning overall in round nine Saturday.

Rivera hounded Dino Steiner, Wehingen, Germany, the first half of the 30-minute race Saturday before making his move to take the lead.

"I finally got him in three. I was waiting for him to use up his tires," Rivera explained. "He got a little sideways and I had the run going up over two. I dove to the inside and out broke him and never looked back."

Faieta capitalized on Rivera's pass and followed him by Steiner, moving Steiner back to second in class, third overall. In the Gold Cup class Melanie Snow, Pleasant Grove, Utah, finished second and Larry Schumacher, Cincinnati, Ohio was third.

The times from Saturday's race were used to determine the starting lineup for round 10 Sunday.

Faieta, who set a new race lap record (1:23.106), started on the pole Sunday and led every lap. Faieta was followed by Rivera, Patrick Kelly, Minnetrista, Minn., and Galen Bieker, Burbank, Calif.

"Tony ran a great race. I kept waiting for him to beat on my door," Faieta said. "We were pacing each other every lap."

Steiner had problems at the start of round 10 Sunday and fell back to 15th overall, 11th in class. His finish allowed Faieta to take over the Platinum Cup point lead.

The IMSA Challenge by Michelin competitors have a month off before heading to Road Atlanta for the Petit LeMans October 2-3.

-credit: imsa