McElrea Racing

Miami Grand Prix

It’s fair to say after our wild weekend at Long Beach and a huge amount of work for the MR USA crew building a new car for Thomas Nepveu, we were looking forward to MR's second Formula 1 support race of the year.

Being only the second ever Miami Grand Prix this was the first time the PCCNA supported this new but already iconic event. Given no other team had an experience advantage over us, we were keen to see how we shaped up. We were also joined by our Australian Carrera Cup ‘mechanic of the year’ Stewart Notley-Smith.

McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023
McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023

Tom Sargent #17

2nd, 20th - Porsche Carrera Cup North America 'Pro Class'
Tom Sargent with McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand 
Prix 2023
Tom Sargent with McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023

Thomas Nepveu #24

DNF, 5th - Porsche Carrera Cup North America 'Pro Class'
Thomas Nepveu with McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023
Thomas Nepveu with McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023

Summary

Well another crazy Porsche Carrera Cup North America weekend!

Both our cars were victims of other drivers mistakes with Thomas Nepveu punted out of P3 on the penultimate lap of race 1 which cost us our first double-podium in the US. However, the ‘Beaver’ bounced back to deliver a spectacular result in race 2 to drive forward from grid 10 to 5th in race 2 for his best PCCNA result so far.

Tom ‘Wombat’ Sargent qualified 4th but took his fifth straight P2 in race 1. Unfortunately in race 2 after starting 3rd and holding position, he was hit from behind by a guest driver who wasn’t even eligible for points at Miami. Obviously this was disappointing for his championship campaign but we still have 10 races ahead.

Despite the challenges, McElrea Racing is still sitting 2nd in the North American Teams Championship, Tom Sargent is sitting 2nd in the Pro championship and Thomas Nepveu is 13th. We are testing at the legendary Watkins Glen circuit in NY next week before our next round there in late June.

McElrea Racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Miami Grand Prix 2023