A trip to Miami at this time of year was bound to be welcomed by Sudbury resident and fast-rising motorsport driver Zach Vanier, regardless of the race outcome last weekend.

Recording his first ever Porsche Carrera Cup win at the Miami Grand Prix only served to make the trek that much more memorable for the young man who cut his teeth on the track at Sudbury Kartways off Notre Dame Avenue in the nickel city.

The 22 year-old graduate of Lasalle Secondary School darted to the lead from his third place start on the opening corner and never relinquished the advantage through the balance of the 40-minute race, driving to victory in the No. 9 Technica Mining/Byers Imports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Vanier would battle with JDX Racing teammate Alex Sedgwick from Britain for much of the race, surviving two additional restarts with the event slowed at times for extended full-course caution periods. In the end, Vanier finished exactly 0.282 of a second ahead of the 25 year-old native of Warwickshire (England).