BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (July 20, 2013)–Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin points leader David Ostella was happy to come back to his home track this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP). The 21-year-old rookie is pulling double duty, also running in the US-based IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama races for the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix.
“Mosport is my home track,” Ostella said. “I’ll be able to sleep in my own bed, have the support of my whole family being there, and be able to have home cooked meals. It adds a level of comfort to not be in some hotel in a place you are unfamiliar with.”
Ostella qualified his SpeedMerchants Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup car seventh in his home series on the 2.459-mile, 10-turn circuit yesterday. An abandoned qualifying round for weather put Ostella in the ninth starting position in the US series.
The Maple, Ontario native first lined his GT3 Cup 911 up today for Round Seven of the US-series championship. Starting ninth, Ostella advanced three positions against the deep field of talented teams and drivers to finish sixth on the day. This was the fourth time this year that journeyman Ostella competed in an IMSA-sanctioned series other than his own.
“This (US GT3 Cup Challenge) race was more about taking it easy,” Ostella said. “These Porsche GT3 Cup cars are strong, but we didn’t want to risk serious damage to it. I really wanted to win, but I’m definitely focused on the Canadian Championship.
“It was a great start, just slowly working my way up. Just being so far back, the front guys just pulled away and I was hoping for a yellow, it would have helped. The car was great and it was definitely good momentum going into the (GT3 Cup Challenge Canada) race. We are really happy with sixth.”
Getting back to his pursuit in the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada series, Ostella enjoyed a bit better starting position of seventh for Round Five of the championship. A slim seven-point lead is all that separated him from the competition when he took the green flag for today’s 45-minute sprint.
As Ostella has done several times this season, he confided in his Porsche GT3 Cup car, his team’s preparation and his own diligence as he set out to catch the polesitter who was also second in points behind him. His confidence paid immediate dividends as Ostella gained one position per lap in the first five laps to capture second and put the leader in sight.
A caution flag period midway through the race bunched up the field for a restart and a chance for Ostella to make a run for the lead, but time ran out as another yellow came out just as Ostella had closed up the gap on the leader. He happily took home second place today as the race ended under caution.
“It was an amazing race,” Ostella exclaimed. “We started off seventh and quickly made our way up to second. The GT3 Cup car and the Michelin tires were just phenomenal. The race ended on yellow, wish it didn’t, I think we could have had something for Chris (Green) at the end there. It was a phenomenal race, I can’t thank the SpeedMerchants guys enough, they did a great job. We struggled in qualifying but definitely found a bit of it today. Hopefully we find a bit more of it tomorrow.”
Ostella will continue his GT3 Cup Challenge Canada effort at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow July 21 for Round Six. He will also take the track at 3:15 p.m ET tomorrow for Round Eight of the US GT3 Cup Challenge.