The final race of the International GT seven race season took the series for the first time to NOLA Motorsports Park in Louisiana. A fabulous motorsports facility, just 20 minutes from the renowned French Quarter of New Orleans, NOLA Motorsports Park with its long straight-aways and technical corners generated some very exciting racing for the series’ season finale.
The Stuttgart Cup GT3 Championship came down to the final race of 2016 with John Mauro, Liberty Township, OH in the #23 – ‘09 997 GT3 being crowned champion. The Mauro Motorsports Team joined the International GT Series half way through the season at their home track, Mid Ohio Sports Car Course. Mauro was able to put together a string of podium finishes for 8 sprint races and 4 enduros to edge out Mark Sandridge of Medina, Ohio, Team Salad #14 – 997 GT3 by just eight points.
Coming into the weekend, Steve Hill from Copper Canyon, Texas #33 – ’07 Ferrari F430 held a sizable lead for the Maranello Cup Championship. Steve battled throughout the race weekend with fellow Norwood Auto Italia teammate, Barry Fromberg of Plano Texas , #43 – ’06 Ferrari F430 splitting the event’s races. Hill taking the win in the two sprint races, while Fromberg was victorious in Sunday’s 90 minute enduro race. Completing a Norwood Auto Italia Ferrari podium sweep was Colin Cohen, of Southlake, TX, back in his #08 – ‘97 F355. After changing cars and classes at VIR, Colin was back in the F355 to secure second place in the 2016 Maranello Cup Championship.
Bill Riddell from Fernandina Beach FL, in his #05 Racelink prepared Cayman S, brought a substantial championship points lead into the weekend and after winning Saturday’s sprint race secured the 2016 Stuttgart Cup Cayman championship.
Next up on the International GT schedule is the 2017 season opener at Sebring International Raceway, March 2-5, 2017.
Steve Hill, Maranello Cup Champion;Bill Riddell, Stuttgart Cup Cayman Champion; The Norwood Auto Italia Ferraris (Hill, Fromberg, Cohen)
John Mauro, Stuttgart GT3 Cup Champion; A set of Pirelli Tires was awarded to each championship team; track action at NOLA Motorsports Park
Race Teams Get Into the Action at NOLA
The series took advantage of the entire NOLA facility by hosting a competition on the small track, inviting the drivers, their crews and the JX2 guys who provide excellent Pirelli tire support at the track, to race on the go kart track Saturday afternoon. A great time was had by all, dicing it out with teammates in the NOLA go karts. In the final results, the fastest three laps were all posted by the Norwood Auto Italia crew, proving that the Ferrari team is quick on a variety of levels.
