Supporting the annual Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, both Staut & Koch pulled out stunning performances for the large Alabama crowd at Barber.
Fifteen-year-old Belgian phenom Karel Staut (GT3 Cup) and rising American Ford Koch (Cayman), a late substitute for his father, stole the spotlight at Barber Motorsports Park during round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama.
Supporting the annual Children's of Alabama Indy Grand Prix – a returning stop on the Sprint Challenge calendar for 2026 – both drivers and their respective GT3 Cup and Cayman classes pulled out stunning performances for the large Alabama crowd at Barber.
Fourth consecutive GT3 Cup win for Belgian rookie, Scalzo and Boden on top in Masters.
Belgian up-and-comer Karel Staut made his Sprint Challenge North America debut only earlier this month, but has quickly become the one-to-beat with four GT3 Cup Pro-Am wins in as many races.
The Kellymoss rookie started from pole position in both rounds at Barber and benefited from fierce battles behind him to build healthy leads over the field. Despite a restart in Race 2 on Sunday, Staut was untouchable en route to his second weekend sweep. He finished 15 seconds ahead of his competition in Race 1 and six seconds ahead in Race 2.
Another series newcomer followed Kraut in second place – Porsche Carrera Cup Australia racer Lockie Bloxsom. It was Bloxsom’s North American debut, and the Aussie finished ahead of Blake McGovern on Saturday and Sunday. The two enjoyed spirited side-by-side battles throughout both contests, and for McGovern, it was his first time on the podium since joining the series this season.
Meanwhile, the GT3 Cup Masters class featured a graduating Cayman champion and another racer celebrating his birthday on the top of the podium.
Alain Scalzo, the 2025 Sprint Challenge North America Cayman Masters champion, climbed the ranks from fifth to first within the opening 10 minutes of the opening race. It was his first win since last year’s penultimate Cayman event at Watkins Glen International.
For Mark Boden, his winless drought dated back further after narrowly missing first place in 2025 but still landing on the podium. However, the Fall-Line Motorsports driver celebrated his birthday in style by taking the win on Sunday.
Scalzo was joined on the podium by Todd Treffert and and Boden on Saturday, while Sunday’s race finished with Scalzo in second and Frank Vitiello in third.
First Sprint Challenge North America Cayman wins for Koch, Cecchi.
The Sprint Challenge Cayman field was introduced to Ford Koch in qualifying at Barber, but by the end of Race 1, everyone in the paddock knew his name.
Koch’s opportunity to slide into a Kellymoss racecar only presented itself earlier in the week, and the young driver missed practice sessions to attend his college classes. Koch stunned the field with an easy Race 1 Pro-Am class win, leading flag-to-flag in his #23 Kellymoss Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, but Race 2 presented its challenges.
From pole, Koch was overtaken by Cody Knight immediately in Turn 1, and a further misstep dropped him to fourth-in-class by the end of their first lap around the 2.38-mile circuit. However, Koch clawed back through the field to regain the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.
While Saturday’s race ended under a full-course yellow, Koch finished with a lead of more than two seconds on Sunday.
Knight’s eventual runner-up finish on Sunday was an excellent rebound from the day prior. Contact with another car dropped him from a potential podium spot, but Knight’s leading laps in Race 2 would be the first of his Sprint Challenge career.
Behind Knight on Sunday was Anna Cecchi in third after she swept the opening two races at Sebring earlier this month. Cecchi also finished second on Saturday at Barber ahead of Keith Grant.
While Anna walked away with two trophies this weekend, her father scored an even better one of his own in the Cayman Masters class. With wins in Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West last season, Greg Cecchi reached the top step of the North American division for the first time in his career on Saturday.
The Charlie Hayes Racing driver was fortunate to have a Pro-Am car between him and his competitors for the entire race and even crossed the finish line third overall behind his daughter. Tom Rogers followed second-in-class on Saturday with William Peluchiwski in third.
The Race 2 win went to Peluchiwski, making it a Cayman sweep for Kellymoss alongside Koch. After tallying four wins in 2025, Sunday was Peluchiwski’s first in 2026 and it happened after the two Masters cars in front of him encountered early issues. Peluchiwski had the lead within five minutes and did not relinquish the position for the remainder of the race.
After a year away from Sprint Challenge, Jim Jonsin had one of his best performances in the series with a second-place result on Sunday behind Peluchiwski. Greg Cecchi in third was eager to take the place from him after Saturday’s success, but Jonsin withstood the pressure to finish ahead by just over one second.
Westward bound to Sonoma.
Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama is back on track in two weeks at Sonoma Raceway. The rounds on April 10 – 12 also doubles as the second Porsche Endurance Challenge North America event of the year, as well as round two of Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.
All Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama races stream live – and are available to watch anytime – on the Porsche Motorsport North America's
Results.
Race 1
GT3 Cup Pro-Am
Karel Staut #243
Lockie Bloxsom #233
Blake McGovern #240
GT3 Cup Masters
Alain Scalzo #222
Todd Treffert #214
Mark Boden #246
Cayman Pro-Am
Ford Koch #23
Anna Cecchi #27
Keith Grant #40
Cayman Masters
Greg Cecchi #72
Tom Rogers #44
William Peluchiwski #62
Race 2
GT3 Cup Pro-Am
Karel Staut #243
Lockie Bloxsom #233
Blake McGovern #240
GT3 Cup Masters
Mark Boden #246
Alain Scalzo #222
Frank Vitiello #248
Cayman Pro-Am
Ford Koch #23
Cody Knight #3
Anna Cecchi #27
Cayman Masters
William Peluchiwski #62
Jim Jonsin #88
Greg Cecchi #72
