The Texas-based Fast Track Racing will field four BMW sports cars this weekend (May 19-21) at the legendary Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course in the SRO America doubleheader race weekend with four Dallas/Ft. Worth Metropolis area drivers competing.
The Plano, TX, racing organization, sponsored by the Sewell Automotive Group, will have three strong BMW M2 CS (Cup) machines for Adam Gleason, Maddie Aust and Nick Roberts and a BMW M4 GT4 mount for J.R. Roberts in the twin sprint races set for Saturday and Sunday at the 3.426-mile, 20-turn circuit east of downtown Austin.
“We will have four BMWs this weekend at COTA and four Texas drivers too,” said Toby Grahovec, team manager for Fast Track Racing and former TC America sports car series champion. “We have had a good deal of success at COTA over the years and we are hoping to continue that trend in a busy weekend for us. We had some young, talent drivers in the TCX division after showing speed in recent TC America events. We will have a big group of friends, family and company employees on hand at COTA.”
Gleason, driving the No. 21 Megawatt/Bitcoin BMW M2 CS (Cup) car, leads the Fast Track Racing TCX contingent this weekend as the Dallas driver seeks a coveted podium finish at COTA. The rookie racer has recorded three top-four finishes in his first four events in the TCX class in TC America competition. He will seek a spot on the podium (top-three) at COTA this weekend in the two 40-minute sprint races.
“I’ve visited COTA for five Formula 1 Grand Prix, Moto GP, Indycar, and WEC,” said Gleason. “To say I have reverence for COTA is an understatement. COTA is also the first track of the SRO calendar that I’ve actually put tire to pavement before. So, I’m really excited to get on this track again. It's not the track I've spent the most time at, but I'm not starting at zero like Sonoma and NOLA. As always, I’m going in with no expectations, but I feel really great about my preparation for this weekend and the progress I’m making each time I get in the car.”
Aust, a recent high school graduate from Fort Worth, made her TCX debut last month at NOLA and performed impressively in her initial professional sports car event, placing in the top-five.
Driving the No. 09 BMW M2 CS (Cup) car, Aust will compete in her home state for the first time with Fast Track Racing as she attempts to step on the top of the victory podium at the famed COTA racing facility.
“I'm really looking forward to improving upon what I learned at NOLA,” said Aust, who also is competing in the Formula 4 road racing series this year. “It was a great experience working with the Fast Track Racing team and Toby’s guidance. Now, I’m excited for what's to come this weekend at COTA!”
Fast Track Racing also has added two additional entries for the COTA SRO America weekend with the father and son duo of J.R. and Nick Roberts. J.R. will drive the No. 11 BMW M4 GT4 sports car in the GT America sprint races on Saturday and Sunday, while Nick, a high school student, will compete in the No. 29 BMW M2 CS (Cup) machine in the TCX division.
“We are proud to be racing with Fast Track Racing and sponsored by D1 Systems,” said Nick Roberts. “COTA is a world class track with a world class series. We're hoping for great weather and a great race. It’s exciting to race with a BMW sports car in the doubleheader races.”
The Fast Track Racing team will hit the COTA track on Friday, May 19, with two TCX practice rounds scheduled for 9:15 a.m. CDT and 2:30 p.m. CDT. Qualifying is set for Saturday at 8:00 a.m. CDT with the first 40-minute TCX race getting underway at 11:15 a.m. CDT. Sunday’s Race 2 will begin at 9:45 a.m. CDT. The GT America action begins Friday at 8:30 a.m. CDT and 1:45 p.m. CDT, with qualifying on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. CDT. The two GT America events are scheduled for Saturday at 1:45 p.m. CDT and Sunday at 8:40 a.m. CDT.
Both TC America TCX and GT America Sprint races can be viewed live on the www.tcamerica.tv website with TCX and GT America highlight packages being telecast on CBS Sports Network in the near future.
