As the summer break comes to a close, TC America powered by Skip Barber competitors are eager to return to the track as the field heads to the renowned VIRginia International Raceway. From July 19th to 21st, 16 cars across 3 classes will take on the challenging 3.27-mile, 17-corner circuit for the seventh and eighth rounds of the season.
VIR offers a thrilling experience for drivers and fans alike, with its highly technical layout ensuring non-stop action at every turn. Spectators will have the opportunity to witness thrilling touring car talents while enjoying the vibrant open paddock atmosphere, including autograph sessions, local vendors, and the pre-race grid walk for Sunday’s feature Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS race, all contributing to an incredible race weekend experience.
TCX Class
Chris Walsh remains the one to beat in the TCX class, earning six consecutive victories in his No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup) and further extending his lead to a total of 150 points. His wins in the previous two races in Austin were hard fought, as Lucas Catania in the No. 17 Rigid Speed BMW M2 CS (Cup) put in a great effort to try to take the top spot on the podium.
The battle for third in the standings has gotten tighter, as Celso Neto, who presently sits in third place in his No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S with 73 points, is now only 9 points ahead of Aaron Kaplan in the No. 18 Kaplan Racing Systems BMW M2 CS (Cup). A third and fourth place finish at COTA allowed Kaplan to inch closer to the Top 3.
Cooper Broll and Christopher DeFreitas will be back in the mix in their respective No. 19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S and No. 39 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura Integra Type S as the two continue their quest to achieve their first podium finishes of the season.
TC Class
The battle for the lead in the TC class is heating up between teammates, as Ruben Iglesias Jr. currently occupies the top spot in his No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N Cup with 11 points, just a mere 5 points ahead of Jeff Ricca in the No. 78 Genracer/Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N Cup. They each earned a win apiece at Circuit of The Americas, and all eyes will turn their way as the title hunt continues at VIR.
After two podium finishes at COTA, Joey Jordan promoted himself to third in the class standings in his No. 71 FTG Racing Mazda 3, with Sally McNulty only 5 points behind in her No. 780 Hyundai Elantra N Cup, with the Ricca Autosport. Meanwhile, Ron Zaras is the newest name on the grid as he joins the Ricca Autosport team in the No. 76 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC entry.
Cristian Perocarpi made another podium appearance in the sixth round on board his No. 37 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro, with teammate Scott Thomson continuing to put in consistent performances in the No. 66 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro.
TCA Class
PJ Groenke further extended his advantage in the TCA class with his No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW after securing the Race 1 win at COTA, but Alex Garcia put up a strong fight in the No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1 to claim the Race 2 win for himself. They will both be ready for battle as they head to one of the most notoriously challenging circuits in North America, with promises of exciting wheel to wheel action to come.
Maddy Lemke’s consistent podium finishes in each round have enabled her to take claim over second place in the TCA rankings in her No. 9 Ascent Racing Honda Civic Si FE1. Finally, Alan Grossberg will be completing the grid in his No. 63 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW.
Let’s Get Racing
The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field is set to take to the track Practice 1 on Friday, July 19th. Click here for the full schedule of the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School weekend.
If you can’t make it to VIR, 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 #GTVIR.