The Pirelli world Challenge is a North American auto racing series launched in 1990 by the Sports Car Club of America. It is managed by WC Vision since 2008, and sanctioned by the United States Auto Club since 2017. The series consists of seven driver classifications and six classes of vehicles: Grand Touring, GT Cup, GTS, Touring Car, Touring Car B-spec, Touring Car-A.
COREY WHITEMAN
An accomplished driver as well as car builder at the grassroots level, and world-renown chassis setup expert in the radio controlled car racing world, Corey is looking to transfer skills learned in different motorsports disciplines into our growing team. “Racing is a sport that doesn’t change. Weather its bicycle racing, r/c car racing, karting, or endurance racing, it is still the ultimate test of human & machine so processes need to be in place to ensure we give our drivers the best equipment every time they go on track. That is what Corey will be part of helping us execute across all 4 of our cars, and I am excited for his processes & thoroughness to pay dividends” said Steve Bortolotti, Manager of Pfaff Motorsports.
SASHA ANIS – CREW CHIEF
Sasha has spent years building & tuning vehicles, with a wealth of experience in both naturally aspirated and forced induction engines – he is also on the forefront of developing performance electric-car technology with his latest project: a Lotus Evora converted into a full-electric vehicle. Sasha’s passion for cars is also in driving. He was a professional race car driver that has raced in Canadian Touring Car, Speed World Challenge, and Grand-Am Continental Sports Car Challenge (GS). This gives Sasha a very unique ability to truly understand driver feedback as it relates to chassis setup better than most, and brings a wealth of experience to the team at various levels of motorsport which will help make our next steps in racing that much more successful.
ED KILLEEN, #37
Another Pfaff customer joining the Canadian GT3 Cup series is Ed Killeen, from Buffalo, New York, who will also be running in the Platinum class with an all-new 911 GT3 Cup car, sponsored by Life Storage. Killeen’s desire to be on-track and learn racecraft began with several years of track days. Becoming more serious about racing, he jumped head-first into motorsports, competing in endurance racing with TWOth Autosport, and earning numerous race wins and podiums. After a successful season racing a Porsche GT4 Clubsport, and running the final race of the Canadian GT3 Cup series in 2016, he’s excited about competing at the top level in the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada.
“My goal for the 2017 season is to get comfortable with the new Cup car as quickly as possible, and challenge for the Platinum Masters class Championship,” said Killeen. “Having the experience and depth that Pfaff Motorsport brings will certainly help us all get up to speed with this great new car. I feel fortunate to run with my guys at TWOth Autosport, and to do it with a group like Pfaff will make it a special year. I’ve got great confidence in the team, and can’t wait for race one at CTMP!”
SHAUN McKAIGUE, #34
Longtime customer Shaun McKaigue began purchasing his cars at Pfaff before attending track days, competing in Porsche Club Racing, and ultimately moving up to the IMSA-sanctioned GT3 Cup series a few years later. McKaigue has driven in the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup since the series’ inception in 2011, and won the Gold class in 2011 and 2016. In 2017, he moves up to the Platinum class with a brand-new 911 GT3 Cup race car, wearing FER-PAL Infrastructure/FER-PAL Aquapipe livery.
“Pfaff Motorsports has demonstrated a professionalism, dedication, and will to win over the last number of years,” said McKaigue. “Their knowledge of everything Porsche gives us an edge. Pfaff can be depended upon to field perfectly prepared cars, every weekend. With their support, I’m hoping to consistently run in the top five during the season, and have my eye on a couple of podium finishes. I would also like to challenge for the win in the Platinum Masters class.”
OREY FIDANI, #13
Orey Fidani will drive his Gold-class 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup in the full Canadian season, plus Sebring. A series rookie in 2015, Fidani claimed the Gold-class championship in his first year, and has shown constant improvement throughout his time in the series. Said team manager Steve Bortolotti: “We are thrilled to have Orey Fidani continue his development with us in 2017 with the goal of bringing home another Gold-class championship.”
SCOTT HARGROVE #9
Scott Hargrove, from Tsawwassen, BC, will drive the full Canadian season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, plus the U.S. GT3 Cup race at Sebring, FL, in the flagship #9 Castrol-Pfaff Motorsports 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The 21-year-old has captured a total of 19 victories in the Canadian GT3 series, was the Canadian GT3 Platinum champion in 2014, won the 2013 USF2000 championship, and came second in the 2014 Pro Mazda championship. He has also raced the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and in select Indy Lights races.
“Pfaff has been involved in motorsports since the 1980s, and is one of the most recognized names in Canadian Motorsports,” said Hargrove. “Several people I look up to in my racing career, such as Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, have raced with Pfaff. It’s important to align yourself with like-minded people who are goal-oriented, and the group at Pfaff Motorsports is a perfect fit; they want to win as much as I do.”
JOHN PAUL DIAS – HEAD TECHNICIAN
In his high school days, he was already involved in automotive industry, doing co-op terms at a small shop and participating in automotive class as much as possible.
From there, he started building his first car, which progressed into a drag car; from there he went onto racing it in a series which he won six years in a row – all while getting his automotive technician license.
John Paul has worked for Pfaff Porsche as a Porsche technician for the past seven years, and was part of the Pfaff Motorsports team in 2013. He’s excited to be back with the team for 2015 and can’t wait to compete for the championship.
ANDREW MARANGONI – RACE ENGINEER
A hands-on, problem-solving engineer who thrives in fast-paced, high pressure environments, Andrew is an automotive mechanical design engineer by trade who spends his free time wrenching on his hot hatch and ’68 Chevrolet.
Having attended the University of Toronto for both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering Degrees, Andrew is fixated on delivering maximum performance from himself and his team on any given race weekend.
STEVE BORTOLOTTI – TEAM MANAGER
While he spent most of his childhood and teenage years playing sports, he always felt an affinity for the car business – and racing in particular.
When Steve turned 18, with the advice and support of his father, he participated in his first Pfaff track day in his Mazda RX-8 – a car that he eventually turned into a race car which he continues to compete in Ontario Time Attack races.
In 2016, with the entire Pfaff Motorsports operation in-house, Steve feels all the pieces are in place to bring home yet another championship.