Creel Pursues Racing Passion In America, Canada

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 Santiago Creel is working hard for his frequent flyer miles as the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series takes him across country and borders.

 

Creel travels from his hometown of Mexico City to compete and test with his team, Wright Motorsports. Occasionally he travels even further north to compete in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin series.

 

A chance introduction through a friend led Creel to John Wright, team principal of Wright Motorsports, and to the U.S. racing series.

 

“I met John through a friend from Scotland,” Creel said. “It’s a weird connection, but that’s why I am here right now. My first race with him was in 2013 at Road America with my Mexican GT3 car, and I loved it.”

 

Creel won Round 10 of the 2013 season in the Gold Cup class in his Wright debut at Road America.

 

“After that, I decided to come back in 2014 to do the whole season,” Creel said. “That made Road America my favorite track. It was the first track I had ever been to in the U.S. and where I got my first win.”

 

Creel climbed to the Platinum Cup class in the 2014 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama season, ending with eight top-10 finishes. In the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series, he finished third overall in his series debut at Toronto.

 

Some of Creel’s success may be credited to his pairing with Ohio-based Wright Motorsports. Wright is the most successful team in recent Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama history, winning 18 Platinum Cup races over the last three seasons.

 

Creel’s talent also is a considerable factor. He has become known for his skilled driving in wet conditions.

 

“I kept doing well racing in the rain,” Creel said. “I won the race at Road America in the rain. I like the handling of the Porsche when racing in the rain. I know it is pretty dangerous racing in the rain because sometimes you don’t have all of the control.

 

“The Yokohama rain tires are great and handle extremely well. The tires take most of the power, and the car really goes.”

 

Creel had never dedicated himself to a single form of racing before his first full season with Wright Motorsports last year. He tried his hand at multiple types, even a few that don’t include an engine.

 

“I don’t have a lot of racing background,” Creel said. “Five years ago, I started racing cars, and in 2012 I did one year of Porsche racing in Mexico. It was in a Cup car series similar to PCA (Porsche Club of America). I raced motorcycles before; I did race motocross then switched to motorcycles. 

 

“I like to race and compete, even if it is in a motorcycle or car. I just love being competitive. I am competitive in running. I do triathlons, half-marathons, marathons. You name it; I do it.”

 

The passion for competition keeps Creel, a tax lawyer, coming back for more in the U.S. and Canada. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car also has kept his interest.

 

“Well, all the series are good,” Creel. “All of the pilots are really good, nice guys, the tracks are really nice, and there is great competition. The German car and its design is great. I think it is one of the best race cars ever to have been made.”

 

Creel is working on finding more speed this year, searching for top-five finishes. He’s off to a good start, with a fourth-place result in wet conditions – his favorite – earlier this month in Round 3 at NOLA Motorsports Park.

 

“My ultimate goal is to run the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Creel said. “I’d like to do all the endurance races like Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring. This may happen in a couple of years, no more than five years from now. I’m working on getting up to pace and becoming more consistent. Then after that, maybe go to the long races.”

 

For more information on Creel, visit wrightmotorsports.com and follow the team on Twitter at @WrightRac1ng. To keep up with Creel on track, follow @IMSALive on Twitter or visit scoring.imsa.com.

Adam Sinclair
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