Catania, Ricca and Groenke Set the Pace in Practice 2 at Sonoma Raceway

Catania, Ricca and Groenke Set the Pace in Practice 2 at Sonoma Raceway
  • 0.001 Splits the Top 2 in TCX
  • Vice-Champion Ricca Fastest in TC
  • Groenke in Top Form in TCA
  • Practice 2 Results

The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field hit the ground running, with the California sun shining down overhead as they took over Sonoma Raceway. The field was quick to get up to speed as they clocked in their fastest laps, setting the scene for the excitement of Race 1 still to come. 

Lucas Catania, Jeff Ricca, and PJ Groenke established themselves as the leaders in the TCX, TC, and TCA Classes, but margins remained thin across the board, with promises of more thrilling battles to emerge soon. 

TCX Class

The TCX Class was quick to prove that the competition remains as fierce as ever, with drivers moving up and down the leaderboard as the session progressed. Lucas Catania was untouchable in his No. Rigid Speed 17 BMW M2 CS (Cup), as the 2023 Vice Champion was quick to establish himself as the frontrunner in the field. However, the margins are incredibly thin, as Chris Walsh raised a significant challenge in his No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup). The two were only separated by a mere 0.001 seconds, with Catania clinching pole position for the opening race. 

Celso Neto also stepped up to the plate in TCX competition after previously graduating from the TC Class, securing the third fastest time in the session while commanding his No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S. 

The Top 5 was finalized by Mike Lamarra in fourth in the No. 73 LA Honda World Racing Acura Integra Type S and Cooper Broll in the No. 19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S. 

TC Class

Jeff Ricca asserted his dominance over the TC Class, as the 2023 Vice Champion made a triumphant return to competition by setting the fastest time in the class on board his No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC, securing pole position for Race 1 in the process. 

Despite being new to the series, Joey Jordan quickly established himself as one to watch in the No. 71 FTG Racing Mazda 3, setting the second best time in class. He will line up alongside Ricca for his first race in the championship. 

He will be accompanied by Sally McNulty, sitting just behind in third in the No. 780 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC, with Ruben Iglesias Jr. also joining his teammate in fourth in the No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC. The Top 5 was completed by Cristian Perocarpi in the No. 37 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro. 

TCA Class

Canadian PJ Groenke set an impressive lap time of 1:55.990 in his No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW. Fellow Canadian Maddy Lemke, who is completing her first full season campaign in the TCA Class, will line up alongside him in her No. 9 Ascent Racing Honda Civic Si FE1. 

Let’s Get Racing

The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field will return to the track for Race 1 on Saturday, April 6th at 12:40 PM PDT. 

If you can’t make it to Sonoma, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSonoma.