When a broken ball joint ended the day for pole sitter Perry Bortolotti on lap one, Quebec’s Martin Harvey picked up where he left off after yesterday’s racing, dicing with Shaun McKaigue through the entire 26-lap Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada race in the Grand Prix ICAR.

Harvey, driving the #08 Wingho Racing/McDonalds entry in the Platinum Cup class for newer Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, had his hands full all day. Slowing to get around Bortolotti’s car on lap one, Harvey was passed by Gold Cup class leader Shaun McKaigue in the #34 SpeedMerchants- Fiorano Racing Porsche. It took the better part of 12 laps for Harvey to get close to McKaigue and make the pass stick.

“It was a big race!” smiled Harvey. “I’m sorry for Perry, but my race was fabulous. Time and time again, we’ve had big battles and to get the win after such a battle today is terrific! But I’m very tired – inside the car, it was 52 degrees (C)! The last two laps, Shaun really pushed me, but I saved my place and got the win.”

McKaigue had the lead for almost half the race, but was unable to hold off the charging Harvey for the second race in a row, finishing second overall and first in Gold Cup class, with Bruce Gregory (#18 SpeedMerchants) just behind.

“Another great race!” said McKaigue. “The start was kind of wild, with Perry having his problems - then Bob Seitz snuck through all of us! I managed to get by him and led but Martin got me with a really good move. I kept trying to push him, trying to get him to make a mistake, but he was picture perfect. I’ve raced on perhaps some more classic racetracks, but for sheer fun, this is right up there.”

The broken ball joint ruined Bortolotti’s shot at a four-race unbeaten streak. He took the green flag with no problems, but his #84 SpeedMerchants-Fiorano Racing Porsche let him know there was an issue as he entered the first turn and it was not long before the ball joint let go.

“The game plan was to stay out in front and get some heat in the brakes for corner one,” explained Bortolotti. “But all of the sudden, in the first turn, the car was loose. I got a lot of understeer in turn two then in corner three “boom” that was it. “

In the melee that ensued behind Bortolotti, Robert Seitz took advantage of a split in the field. The Silver Cup class competitor enjoyed the chance to lead lap one regulations and live timing, visit www.imsaracing.net