U.S. karting standout scores an impressive 6th in Porsche Carrera Cup MONSHEIM, Germany - American Patrick Long is proving to be a quick learner in the German Porsche Carrera Cup series. Last weekend at Adria Raceway in Italy, the 21-year-old Californian scored a strong sixth place finish for the UPS Porsche Junior team, despite it being only his second Carrera Cup start and again having to learn a new circuit. A frustrating damp-dry-wet qualifying session landed Long a disappointing tenth on the grid, as his Michelin wet tires hadn't quite "come in" on his best lap in the changing track conditions. "We just missed having a very quick lap, but the dampness of the track changed throughout the session. My fastest lap was in full wet conditions." Long explained. "Also, I was a bit conservative. I didn't want to make any big mistakes. I knew I could move up in the race." Add prophet to Long's list of talents. Race day dawned hot and muggy, and Long drove confidently and aggressively from the start. He moved up one spot from the standing start then continued to slice through the field. At the end of the grueling 30-lap, 80-kilometer race - cockpit temperatures were in the 140-150 degree range - Long had made four on-track passes and crossed the finish line in sixth position - one of the best finshes ever by a rookie in the German Carrera Cup. "I'm very pleased at my result, and the team is pleased, too," Long said. "It was a wild race, with lots of contact and side-by-side racing. I'm happy with my pace, which was the quickest in the field during the middle laps. If I can improve my qualifying, I should be on the podium soon." On the strength of his sixth place at Adria - a new 9-turn, 1.67-mile circuit outside Venice, Italy - and eighth place at the Hockenheim season opener, Long is now seventh overall in series points. The next German Carrera Cup will be at the Nurburgring GP circuit on May 24th. Then on June 1st, Long will make his debut in the Michelin Porsche Supercup series on the streets of Monaco, as a support race to the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco. As a member of the UPS Porsche Junior team, Long will contest the entire German Porsche Carrera Cup season and select Porsche Michelin Supercup events. This is Long's sixth year of living and racing in Europe, where he has won international events in karting, Formula Ford and Formula Renault. For more information on Patrick Long visit his website at: www.patricklong.com. Information on the Porsche Carrera Cup can be found on the German language website: www.racecam.de. Results (Round 2, German Carrera Cup, Adria Raceway, Italy): Distance: 80km Weather/Track: Sunny/dry Pos/Driver Entrant 1. Frank Stippler - Team Farnbacher 2. Wolf Henzler - EMC Carsport Racing 3. Christian Menzel - Tolimit Motorsport 4. Mike Rockenfeller - UPS Porsche Junior Team 5. Alex Davison - Team HP Phoenix 6. Patrick Long - UPS Porsche Junior Team