PSCNA: Flawless weekend for Anna Cecchi at Sebring International Raceway
- LIAM REDFORD
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Returning to the series alongside Charlie Hayes Racing for a title bid, Anna Cecchi began her Porsche Sprint Challenge North America campaign with a dominant double victory at Sebring International Raceway, leading every lap of both races in Florida.
Anna Cecchi began her Porsche Sprint Challenge North America campaign with a dominant double victory at Sebring International Raceway. Returning to the series alongside Charlie Hayes Racing for a title bid, Cecchi led every lap of both races in Florida as she drove maturely while resisting pressure from Cayman Pro/Am class rival Keith Grant.
Cecchi returned to Porsche Sprint Challenge North America following an excellent season in 2025. The young American driver finished third in the Cayman Pro/Am standings while remaining in championship contention until the final round. Remaining with established squad Charlie Hayes Racing, Anna was targeting a title challenge in the highly competitive one-make series.
Cecchi’s 2025 campaign saw her finish on the podium on 10 occasions, while she regularly contended for overall race victories. Her qualifying pace was a particular highlight as Anna claimed pole position at Virginia International Raceway before leading a number of laps on her way to her largest points haul of the season. Cecchi’s versatility was also impressive as she finished on the Cayman Pro/Am class podium in six of the seven rounds.
Returning to Sebring International Raceway, Cecchi was looking to continue her strong form in Florida. Last season, the Charlie Hayes Racing driver twice finished in third position as she battled with fellow female driver Loni Unser and Cayman Pro/Am class champion Jens Hantson. Scoring consistent points has been the key to claiming the title in recent years and therefore Cecchi aimed to begin the campaign on the front foot.
Following the opening test sessions to begin the weekend, the first official free practice session was held on Friday afternoon. Due to lightning in the area, the session ended early with Cecchi setting the fourth fastest time overall, second within the Cayman Pro/Am division. Her quickest lap of a 2:13.101 was less than a tenth of a second away from David Grant who was the class pacesetter.
Saturday’s bumper day of action began with the second and final free practice session held early in the morning. It was an extremely positive session for Cecchi who topped the times with a fastest lap of a 2:10.628 which was over two seconds faster than she managed the previous day. Anna’s speed through the challenging first sector was a particular strength as the Charlie Hayes Racing driver was over a quarter of a second quicker than any of her rivals.
Qualifying was held shortly after with the 20 minute session due to set the grid for both races in Florida. As the drivers completed their out laps, Cayman Masters driver Greg Herback crashed at turn 13 and as a result, the red flag was displayed. With the clock continuing to count down, qualifying was abandoned with no times being set and therefore the grid positions were based upon the fastest times from free practice two.
Starting the season opener from pole position, Cecchi was looking to start the season on a high. As the race got underway, the Charlie Hayes Racing driver got an excellent launch and comfortably claimed the lead through the opening turns, while contact behind led to a spin in the midfield. By the halfway point of lap one, Cecchi’s advantage over Cayman Pro/Am class rival Keith Grant stood at over one second as Anna used her experience on cold tyres to secure the lead. Grant fought back with his strength in the final sector clear to see from the outset, reducing the margin to a quarter of a second as the drivers began lap two.
Cecchi’s maintained her composure and began edging away, while an overall fastest time on lap three saw her again extend the gap to one second. Setting a time of a 2:12.477 on lap four, Anna's pace was improving with Cecchi and Grant now building a sizeable margin over third-place driver Spencer Propper. With little pressure behind, Grant focussed on cutting the margin to Cecchi and the leading duo began exchanging fastest laps.
Despite Grant regularly closing in through Sunset Bend, Cecchi’s continued to lead the race at the halfway point. Following an overall best time through sector one on lap nine, Cecchi set another fastest lap of the race with the benchmark now set at a 2:11.891. Cecchi’s composure remained a strength as she continued to drive maturely despite her lead over Grant remaining at less than one second. The Charlie Hayes Racing driver also did a nice job to negotiate the slower car of Justin Lewis as the leaders caught the debutant at turn one.
The pace at the head of the field remained fast and consistent in the closing stages with Cecchi continuing to repel the challenge of Grant. Anna’s advantage over her rival was just two tenths of a second as the final lap got underway and the Grant Motorsports driver was aiming to force Cecchi into a defensive line. An exemplary drive was completed by Cecchi as she claimed her first ever victory in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America with a lights-to-flag performance, while also claiming the overall fastest lap.
Race two of the weekend took place on Saturday morning with Cecchi starting on pole position courtesy of her fastest lap in race one. As the lights went out, Cecchi got another fantastic launch as she cleared rival Keith Grant into the first turn. Grant came under pressure from Tom Rogers and as a result, Anna’s lead extended to over one second on the opening lap.
On lap two, a change for third position saw William Peluchiwski pass Rogers and with the pressure on Grant relieved, he began to close in on Cecchi. Both drivers were now pulling clear of the field with Peluchiwski and Rogers fighting for Cayman Masters class honours. A strong fourth lap for Grant saw him almost draw level with Cecchi on the exit of turn 13 before the Charlie Hayes Racing driver extended her margin once more.
As the race settled into a rhythm, Cecchi’s lead grew to over one second and she was looking composed at the head of the field. On lap eight, Cecchi was a further half a second faster than Grant and her lead stood at one and a half seconds, the largest margin of the entire weekend. As the race entered the second half, the lead gap remained stable with Cecchi and Grant exchanging lap times within a quarter of a second of one another.
Despite Cecchi’s impressive consistency, Grant mounted a late challenge and with five minutes remaining, the gap had reduced to one second. Responding to her rival, Cecchi doubled her margin on the next lap to ensure the Grant Motorsport driver was unable to shape for a move. Securing her second victory of the weekend, it was another exemplary drive from Cecchi who banked maximum points in the Cayman Pro/Am class to begin her season.
After an excellent debut campaign in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America last season, Cecchi has quickly asserted herself as a championship challenger in 2026. The Charlie Hayes Racing driver was the class of the field in the Cayman Pro/Am class as she claimed both pole positions, while leading every lap across the two races. Cecchi will be looking to continue her momentum when the season resumes at Barber Motorsports Park on the weekend of March 28th/29th.