- Alex Garcia pilots his Honda Civic Si to victory for the second consecutive weekend in SRO Touring Car American TCA competition
- More TCX Podium Results for Acura Integra Type S
- Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 finishes fourth in Sunday's GT World Challenge America round
The SRO TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School series headed to the Lone Star State for races five and six of the 2024 season at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). After the first two rounds visited both coasts, this weekend hit the center of the country at the 3.5-mile circuit in Texas.
Amidst the scenic setting of one of the most thrilling race tracks the country has to offer, the Honda and Acura drivers in TC America and Fanatec GT World Challenge America had a very successful weekend.
TOURING CAR AMERICA POWERED BY SKIP BARBER
TCX Acura Integra Type S DE5
The new, HRC-built Acura Integra Type S DE5 continues to earn podium finishes in the highly competitive TCX class. Celso Neto qualified his Integra second just 0.2 seconds off the pole for race 1 and he was able to hold that position until the halfway mark when he experienced an issue that ended his race early. The LA Honda World Racing team was back in action after missing the last race with Mike LaMarra bringing home his Integra just off the podium in 4th.
At the start of race two, Celso Neto glued himself to the tail of the 1st place car until the end of the first lap when he made the move for the lead. The top three competitors drove nose-to-tail until the halfway mark, when Neto slid wide on a turn giving up the lead. Neto was able to recover and earn a 3rd place trophy for his third consecutive race weekend on the podium for Acura. Cooper Broll also had a successful Sunday bringing his Acura from 8th up to 5th position securing a much-deserved Super Fuel Hard Charger Award.
TCA Honda Civic Si FE1
Saturday's TCA race saw the most recent winner, Alex Garcia, follow up his Sebring success with a hard fought second-place finish. Joining him on the podium was the very consistent Maddy Lemke in 3rd with another Honda Civic Si FE1.
Learning from the first race, Garcia didn't let the leader get away on Sunday staying within 1 second of first place for over 20 minutes. Patiently waiting for his chance, Garcia found an opportunity to sweep by the leader as the two headed into Turn 1. The pair stayed together until they went side-by-side for multiple corners on the last lap.
The Honda Civic Si never faltered, and Garcia brought home the win for the 2nd straight weekend. As he defended his lead he was able to earn himself the Crowdstrike Fastest Lap award. Once again Maddy Lemke was able to stay clean and race a strong race getting back on the podium in third place in the No. 9 Ascent Racing Honda Civic Si FE1.
FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE AMERICA POWERED BY AWS
Acura NSX GT3 Evo22
The weekend began very promising for the Racer's Edge Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 setting the fastest time in practice, and eventually qualifying 5th (3rd in class). Luca Mars had a great jump at the start and was able to make a move for the lead going into turn 1. Unfortunately, a competitor's mistake led to contact before they got out of turn 1 leading to front right damage and ending their day.
Sunday's Race 2 showed the team's hours spend rebuilding the car overnight was worth the effort as Zach Veach was able to move up from 10th to 7th in the first stint. Luca Mars continued to move up the field eventually ending 6th overall and 3rd in class. A track limits penalty would ultimately move them back one spot for a fourth-place result.
Quotes
Celso Neto (#22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S DE5) "Hard fought P3 today! We led for over 25 minutes but unfortunately, we just didn't have enough pace to maintain the lead at the end. Thanks to my team for the stellar work and everyone for the support!"
Cooper Broll (#19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S DE5) "Started P8 and finished P5, and I'm hyped to have won the Hard Charger award for passing the most cars in my class! The car felt pretty good, had no mechanical issues and I had a blast out there. Big thanks to the amazing Skip Barber Racing team for their support."
Mike LaMarra (#73 LA Honda World Racing Acura Integra Type S TCX) "It's very exciting. It's great to be up here for LA Honda World and HRC and Acura. The car is beautiful and it's fun to drive. We're happy to be here and it'll be fun to work on moving this car forward. We've learned a lot in the last couple of days of racing, and I think as we grow in our knowledge with the car it will be a really strong contender."
Next
With the new Integra Type S platform getting better each race, the teams are really looking forward to getting back to competition after a summer break. The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School and the Fanatec GR World Challenge America powered by AWS fields will return on track at VIRginia International Raceway from July 19th to 21st.
TCX COTA Saturday Race Results
4th TCX - #73 Mike Lamarra, LA Honda World Racing, Acura Integra Type S
6th TCX - #39 Christopher DeFreitas, Racers Edge Motorsports, Acura Integra Type
TC COTA Saturday Race Results
6th TC - #11 Kris Valdez, DRS, Honda Civic Type R
TCA COTA Saturday Race Results
2nd TCA - #14 Alex Garcia, Skip Barber Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1
3rd TCA - #9 Maddy Lemke, Ascent Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1
GT World Challenge America COTA Saturday Race Results
DNF - #93 Luca Mars and Zach Veach, Racers Edge Motorsports, NSX GT3
TCX COTA Sunday Race Results
3rd TCX - #22 Celso Neto, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S
5th TCX - #19 Cooper Broll, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S (Hard Charger)
6th TCX - #7 Mario Biundo, LA Honda World Racing, Acura Integra Type S
7th TCX - #39 Christopher DeFreitas, Racers Edge Motorsports, Acura Integra Type S
TC COTA Sunday Race Results
6th TC - #11 Kris Valdez, DRS, Honda Civic Type R
TCA COTA Sunday Race Results
1st TCA - #14 Alex Garcia, Skip Barber Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1 (Fastest Lap)
3rd TCA - #9 Maddy Lemke, Ascent Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1
GT World Challenge America COTA Sunday Race Results
7th (4 in class) - #93 Luca Mars and Zach Veach, Racers Edge Motorsports, NSX GT3
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