- Chris Walsh, Carrus Callas Raceteam Quickest Overall
- Jeff Ricca, Ricca Autosport On Top in TC
- Alex Garcia, Skip Barber Racing Fastest in TCA
- Unofficial Results
The TC America Powered by Skip Barber Racing School field took over Circuit of The Americas on Friday morning for their first official practice session of the weekend. The 30 minute session ran uninterrupted as the drivers got up to speed with the high-speed and technical Austin-based track.
Chris Walsh continued to assert his dominance in the TCX class, setting the fastest overall time of 2:23.796 in his No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup). The fastest time in the TC Class was set by Jeff Ricca in the No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC with a time of 2:26.734, with Alex Garcia leading the TCA pack in his No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1 with a time of 2:33.189.
TCX Class
Chris Walsh remained as the one to catch in the TCX class, setting the fastest time overall in his No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup), moving up to the top spot on the leaderboard with a time of 2:23.796. Mike Lamarra followed in second in his No. 73 LA Honda World Racing Acura Integra Type S TCX.
The remaining competitors who completed the Top 5 were all separated by small margins, with Lucas Catania finishing the session in in third in the No. 17 Rigid Speed BMW M2 CS (Cup), with Celso Neto sitting just 0.156 seconds behind in his No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S, followed by Mario Biundo another mere 0.259 seconds behind him in the No. 7 LA Honda World Racing Acura Integra Type S TCX.
TC Class
Jeff Ricca set the tone in his No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC, posting the fastest lap in the TC class in addition to securing the sixth-quickest time overall in the session with a time of 2:26.734. Joey Jordan accompanied him in second position in the No. 71 FTG Racing Mazda 3, with Sally McNulty posting the third fastest time in the No. 780 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC.
Fourth and fifth place in Practice 1 went to Ruben Iglesias Jr. in the No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N Cup and Cristian Perocarpi in the No. 37 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro.
TCA Class
Alex Garcia got up to speed quickly in his No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1, with a time of 2:33.189 earning him the top time in the TCA class, which he set on his final flying lap in Practice 1. He was followed by PG Groenke in the No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW, as the two continued to battle for the top spot as their weekend in Austin progresses.
Maddy Lemke was in third in the No. 9 Ascent Racing Honda Civic Si FE1, accompanied by Alan Grossberg in fourth in his No. 63 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW.
Let’s Get Racing
The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field will return to the track for Practice 2 on Friday afternoon, May 17th at 2:20 PM CT.
If you can’t make it to Austin, 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 #GTCOTA.