- LA Honda World’s Spencer Bucknum brings home a victory and a 2nd place finish in TCA this weekend at Road America
- All-Honda front row in the first TCX race with Honda Civic Type-R TCX cars sweeping the front two spots in qualifying
- Skip Barber Racing School’s Celso Neto earns a podium in his Civic Type-R
Drivers returned to action after their summer break to the challenging 14 turn, 4-mile-long Road America track this past weekend. The HPD Honda Civic Si FE1 visited the top step of the podium in TCA, while the Civic Type-R was able to secure a 3rd place finish in TC in the SRO Touring Car Ameriaca season at Road America Saturday and Sunday.
TCA Honda Civic Si
On Saturday, the HPD Honda Civic Si FE1 started on the TCA pole piloted by Spencer Bucknum. The LA Honda World Racing driver was able to go wire-to-wire in a highly contested battle for the win. Bucknum was unable to stretch out more than a one second lead the entire race but never lost his composure while under heavy pressure the whole race. The victory moved Bucknum into first place in the championship standings. Another Honda Civic Si FE1 driven by William Lambros came home 5th.
In Race 2 on Sunday, Spencer Bucknum started 3rd but worked his way to the lead in the opening lap. After swapping spots with the top three drivers throughout the race, he eventually was able to secure a second-place finish capping a great weekend for the Civic Si driver. Williams Lambros came home 4th in his Skip Barber Racing School Civic Si.
TCX Honda Civic Type R
It was an all-Honda front row in the first TCX race with the Honda Civic Type-R TCX cars of Mat Pombo and Dai Yoshihara sweeping the front two spots in qualifying. Unfortunately, pole qualifier Pombo was involved in a first lap accident that ended his day, leading to a red flag. The damage to the Civic Type-R car was extensive enough that meant Pombo would not be able to race Sunday. Dai Yoshihara fell to 6th after multiple yellow flags shortened the race. He was able to set the fastest lap of the race however, putting him on pole for race 2 on Sunday. His fifth pole of the season didn’t end the way he wanted, as Yoshihara was unable to finish the race when a mechanical failure had him retire early.
TC Honda Civic Type R
Saturday’s race featured three Hondas on the TC class grid, with Celso Neto starting third, Kris Valdex starting 6th, and Jeremiah Burton beginning 7th. Burton is a new racer this year and gained more valuable experience Saturday keeping the car clean while moving up to a solid 5th place finish. Valdex held on to his 6th place position throughout the race, while Neto kept his Civic Type-R in a podium position in third.
On Sunday, Neto started fourth in TC, Burton 6th, and Valdex 7th with each driver able to maintain their position throughout the race for a strong finish.
Quote
Spencer Bucknum (#5 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Si FE1), TCA race winner Saturday, after Saturday’s race: “Definitely a hectic race…multiple restarts having to hold them off. Happy with a P1!” Huge thanks to LA Honda World and HPD, couldn’t do it without those guys.”
Next
The Honda Civic Type-R and Civic Si Touring Car teams will head to Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida for rounds 11 & 12 on September 22-24.
TCX America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Saturday Race Results
6th TCX - #99 Dai Yoshihara, VGRT Racing Honda Civic Type R TCX
7th TCX - #93 Christopher DeFreitas, Ian Lacy Racing Honda Civic Type R TCX
DNF TCX - #73 Matthew Pombo, LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type R TCX
TC America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Saturday Race Results
3rd TC - #7 Celso Neto, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type R
5th TC - #34 Jeremiah Burton, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type R
TCA America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Saturday Race Results
1st TCA - #5 Spencer Bucknum, LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Si FE1
7th TCA - #88 Ruben Iglesias, VGRT Racing Honda Civic Si FE1
TCX America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Sunday Race Results
7th TCX - #93 Christopher DeFreitas, Ian Lacy Racing Honda Civic Type R TCX
DNF TCX - #99 Daijiro Yoshihara, VGRT Racing Honda Civic Type R TCX
TC America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Sunday Race Results
4th TC - #7 Celso Neto, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type R
6th TC - #34 Jeremiah Burton, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Type R
TCA America presented by Skip Barber Racing School Road America Sunday Race Results
2nd TCA - #5 Spencer Bucknum, LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Si FE1
4th TCA - #77 William Lambros, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Si FE1
6th TCA - #19 Cooper Broll, Skip Barber Racing School Honda Civic Si FE1
7th TCA - #88 Ruben Iglesias, VGRT Racing Honda Civic Si FE1
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