Friday kicked the SRO America weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in earnest. While Thursday was practice and qualifying for the support series, today is when we get down to business. Here are the highlights from Friday in Alabama.
TC America
The weekend opened up with some new faces finishing up front in Race 1 of TC America. Andre Castro, second in the Championship, grabbed pole position on Thursday. Castro would lead the opening seven laps until mechanical problems struck his No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai. Castro brought the car to the pits and was out of contention from there.
It was a day to forget for the Toyota Corollas of JMF Motorsports. First, debutant Aidan Shimbashi suffered mechanical problems in his No. 3 car. Shimbashi found a marshal station and backed it into the gap, but unfortunate his first TC race only lasted one lap. Moreover, teammate Brayden Arthur would not see the end either. After mechanical issues would strike Justin Gravett’s Hyundai while leading on Lap 11, it was Arthur’s turn at the front. But leading seemed to be the kiss of death and the championship leader was not immune. With nine minutes remaining, Arthur’s suspension collapsed in Turn 2 leaving him beached in the gravel. Arthur’s parked car would bring out the full course yellow and the race would not resume.
Matan Rosenburg in his No. 78 Hyundai – Photo Courtesy: Andrew Miterko
The lucky beneficiary is Matan Rosenburg who scores his first career win in TC America. The podium was full of first timers as Logan Anderson finishes second in his Skip Barber Racing Acura followed by the Fawn Group Hyundai of Shelby Mills in third.
In the championship, Castro gains two points with eighth over Arthur who fell to ninth after his retirement. Therefore, the points gap is down to five with three races left. Castro also set the fastest lap before his mechanical troubles. Therefore, he will start Race 2 from the pole. Race 2 is Saturday at 9:25am local time.
Pirelli GT4 America
Westin Workman put the No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota Supra on pole for Race 1 of Pirelli GT4 America and lead the field away at the start. While some cars did put some wheels off, no major incidents took place on the opening lap.
Undeniably, it was not a good day for the pair of Mercedes for Dome Motorsports. On Lap 8, their Pro-Am entry with Allen Patten was beached in the gravel in Turn 1. This subsequently led to the race’s sole full course yellow. Later during the pitstop window, the Am class entry with Laura Hayes at the wheel had a collision with Frankie Muniz in the TechSport Mustang at Turn 5. Muniz came off worse with a broken toe link which took the car out of contention. Moreover, race control found Muniz at fault and the No. 30 Mustang was given a drive-thru penalty.
Up front, Tyler Gonzalez picked up where Workman left off and no one touched the RAFA Racing Supra in the second half. Gonzalez takes the flag ten seconds clear of the rest of the field. Gonzalez and Workman score their third win of the season, their first since sweeping at Sonoma in March. Second overall and tops in Pro-Am is the No. 94 Random Vandals BMW of points leader Sam Craven and Kenton Koch, back after missing Road America for the birth of his daughter. Craven and Koch notch their fifth win of the season.
Finally, the Garcia Brothers and ACI Motorsports made a manufacturer switch from BMW to Porsche since Road America. The switch paid immediate dividends as Alex and Michael take their fourth win of the season in the Am class.
Race 2 of the weekend is Saturday at 1:35pm local time.
GTWC America Free Practice
After testing throughout the early morning, times counted Friday afternoon for Free Practice 1. With sponsorship from southern gas and convenience store chain Buc-ee’s on their No. 32 Porsche this weekend, it is GMG Racing leading the way. Tom Sargeant set the benchmark lap of the session with a 1:21.267. Daniel Morad put the TR3 No. 9 Mercedes in second quickest with a 1:21.468. Frederik Schandorff, back with AF Corse USA this weekend, goes fastest in Pro and third overall in the No. 12 Ferrari.
After three manufacturers in the top three, Porsches fill the rest of the top five. Ryan Yardley places the Pro-Am points leading Wright Motorsport No. 31 Porsche in fourth overall. Finally, RS1 rounds out the top five with a 1:21.864 courtesy of Jan Heylen. The Am class AF Corse USA Ferrari was sixteenth quickest with Oswaldo Negri getting back up to pace with a 1:22.822.
Cars return to the track with two more sessions on Saturday.
SRO America/GTWC America Barber Coverage: Race Preview
Headline Photo: GT World Challenge America cars on track for the Friday morning test session – Photo Courtesy: Fabian Lagunas/SRO Motorsports Group
