Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O’Connell won the season finale Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this afternoon. Teammate Michael Cooper rounded out the podium in third.
O’Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) took the green flag for the 50-minute race from pole position. Working through three caution periods, including a one lap dash for victory, O’Connell had contact with the No. 58 Porsche of Patrick Long in Turn 5, but was able to maintain his lead and take the win. The four-time PWC GT Champion came up just short of his fifth title finishing the season third in the GT driver’s points standings. Highlights for the season includes four race wins, a pole position to go along with 10 podium finishes (including wins).
“It was exciting,” O’Connell said. “We led the whole thing. On the last lap restart I went into Turn 4 and had a wiggle and got two wheels in the dirt. That allowed Patrick (Long, No. 58 Porsche) to take a run on me going into Turn 5. I was on the inside and he turned down on me and we touched. I feel bad for that to happen on the last lap of the last race. He doesn’t need to try that move. Unfortunate for Patrick. He is a great race car driver, but I was here to win.”
Michael Cooper (Syosset, N.Y.) started the race in third and finished in third. The young driver finished the season fourth in the GT drivers points with season highlights that include two wins, a pole and six podium finishes.
“It was a wild restart,” Cooper said. “It was great for Cadillac Racing and Johnny to log another win. The car changed on me a little bit after that second caution. The third caution came out and I was able to get another run at it. The last lap was wild. Johnny got two wheels off, Patrick made his move and Alvaro Parente (No. 9 McLaren) made his and I found myself in third on the podium. A good way to finish my first season in GT.”
“Wow what a race,” Laura Klauser, GM World Challenge program manager said. “With Johnny winning and Michael completing the podium today it was a nice way to cap a very successful season for Cadillac Racing. We posted six wins, two pole positions and 16 podiums. Congratulations to the K-PAX team and Alvaro Parente, they are formidable competitors.”
“Congratulations to Johnny and Michael for closing out the season with a win and a podium finish,” said Jim Campbell, GM Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, vice president. “Hard work, preparation and teamwork helped put them in contention for the championship right up until the last race. The Cadillac ATS-V.R proved be agile on the race track, just like the ATS-V is on the street.”
The Pirelli World Challenge series finale race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be televised on the CBS Sports Network Sunday, October 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET.