ERIKA HOFFMANN Tops Practice But Denied Podium by Bad Luck at Watkins Glen

September 2, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

ERIKA HOFFMANN delivered her strongest weekend pace yet in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, topping practice two at Watkins Glen by over a tenth from championship leader Jens Hantson. The Canadian rookie’s 1:54.928 lap time marked her first session-topping performance of the season, proving she’s getting comfortable with tracks she’s never seen before – which is most of them in this debut campaign.
What should have been a breakthrough podium weekend turned into a masterclass in motorsports cruelty. A disrupted qualifying session left HOFFMANN starting from seventh after a spin, then race one saw her climb to a provisional podium spot before contact with Anna Cecchi earned her a drive-through penalty. She salvaged fourth place both races, but we all know what this speed could have delivered with cleaner circumstances.
The weekend showcased exactly why HOFFMANN has already nabbed two podiums as a rookie despite missing Road America due to funding challenges. Her racecraft shined through multiple midfield battles, including fantastic wheel-to-wheel action with Ramy Farid in race two where she nearly pulled off a last-lap overtake. She heads to the Road Atlanta finale knowing she has the pace to challenge for that elusive third podium of the season.