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Sep 2, 2018 / reports

COUPAL CLOSES OUT WORLD CHALLENGE SEASON WITH PODIUM FINISH

JT Coupal wrapped up our Pirelli World Challenge TCR season in style, taking a dramatic third-place finish at Watkins Glen. It's an impressive result from the eighteen-year-old from upstate New York, who the week before began his freshman year in Journalism at Syracuse University.

The first race of the weekend's double-header, on Saturday, saw JT battling hard for fifth place in his No. 77 Micro Precision Components / Pfaff Audi / Race Day Foundation RS 3 LMS, and making a pass stick on the very last lap going into the famous "Bus Stop". He and the team were pleased with the result, which saw them in first place of what they amusingly called "The VW/Audi Cup", right behind the two full-factory programs from Honda and Hyundai.

"There were lots of issues this year with Balance of Performance, and how the series dealt with the factory and privateer teams," noted Team Principal Karl Thomson.  "JT's result this weekend was the result of a season of perserverence and dogged determination, and we are all so proud of his performance."Race two, on Sunday, marked the final round of the twelve-race championship. JT started in fifth and hounded the lead cars. Both Hyundai entries suffered mechanical issues, and Coupal closed in the latter stages of the race against the second-place Honda. He finished third, notching his first professional podium.

"What a great result! I am thrilled to finish the year strong, with a podium, after a challenging year," remarked Coupal. "A big thank you to our sponsors and partners, and to the Compass guys who kept digging race after race."

The races will be televised on NBC Sports in the coming weeks, and available for streaming on the World Challenge website thereafter.