Shift Up Now Athlete Loni Unser earned her fourth consecutive podium - and sixth for the season - with a second-place finish in rounds nine and ten of the 2025 Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama season at Road America on August 8-10, 2025.
Competing for Kellymoss Racing, Unser piloted the purple No. 4 “Be Your Own Hero” Cayman GT4 RS.
The race weekend began on Friday with two practice sessions on the 4.048-mile, 14-turn road course. Unser started strong by running in the top five for the first session, then outdid herself by topping the time charts in the second.
On Saturday morning, Unser had one of her best qualifying sessions of the season so far. The California native set a pair of fast laps on her Yokohama tires, earning her a spot on the outside of the front row for both of the weekend’s races.
Later that day, race one began at 1:30pm CST. The 35-minute-plus-one-lap competition began with a double-file start, which quickly settled into single-file at the front of the pack.
Unser, running in second place for most of the race, was a bit too far behind the leader to challenge but enjoyed the clean air and no pressure from behind as she kept a far enough gap to focus forward.
With 20 minutes left in the race, a full-course caution flew for a single-car incident. After the cleanup, 12 minutes - plus one lap - remained. Unser had a strong restart, forcing the leader to defend on the inside. However, the dirty air coming from his car pushed her wide of the apex. She dropped back one car length, which halted her pass attempt.
She kept her car clean for the remainder of the race to bring home a second-place finish and her sixth podium of the season.
“Road America is one of my favorite race tracks,” said Unser. “So to go there and run well is always a treat. I can’t wait for the next rounds of the season where I’m able to keep challenging for the lead and hopefully continue my podium streak!"
On Sunday morning, race two was scheduled for 9:05am CST. Initially, the start was delayed due to torrential rain causing unsafe conditions.
About 40 minutes into the delay, race control sent the field out behind the pace car to analyze track conditions, and whether it was feasible to run. When cars began hydroplaning off track at pace car speeds, the red flag flew. Shortly afterward, lightning caused a further delay before race control made the decision to cancel the second day of competition.
Drivers were informed that the second race will be rescheduled for the upcoming race weekend at Watkins Glen, and further details will be announced soon. In addition to that make- up race, rounds 11 and 12 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America presented by Yokohama championship will take place at Watkins Glen International on August 29-31, 2025.
