With just four rounds left in the TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School championship, it’s crunch time for many drivers, as championship-deciding points are up for grabs. For the TCX and TCA classes in particular, champions could be crowned at Barber Motorsports Park, as the end of their quests for the top spot are within reach.
As SRO America prepares to descend on Birmingham, Alabama, the stakes are higher than ever for the leading contenders, and the pressure is reaching a boiling point.
TCX Class
Chris Walsh has been an undeniable standout performer this year in the No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS (Cup). He has completed three consecutive weekend sweeps spanning from Sonoma to Austin, in addition to pulling double duty for part of the season by competing in the Pirelli GT4 America championship as well. With seven wins total, and having never finished lower than second in any of the ten rounds so far, it is evident that Walsh is the one to beat.
He is in position to clinch the TCX class title this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, however, in recent rounds the tides have shifted and favored Celso Neto in the No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S. The young Brazilian has scored three victories of his own, and will be doing everything in his power to keep that momentum going into the final events.
Meanwhile, Cooper Broll looks poised to claim third in the standings in his No. 19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S after recently putting together a string of podium finishes. Behind him, a tight battle is shaping up for fourth place between Christopher DeFreitas and Aaron Kaplan. The fight for position between the drivers of the No. 39 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura Integra Type S and the No. 18 Kaplan Racing Systems BMW M2 CS (Cup) could come down to the very last race depending on how things play out, as the two are currently only separated by a mere three points.
TC Class
After finishing his 2023 campaign as the runner-up, Jeff Ricca only has eyes for the top spot this time around, and does not want to settle for anything less. He has had an exceptionally strong season overall, with five wins and three podiums, bringing him to a total of 185 points in his No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N Cup. However, Cristian Perocarpi is not going to let him get away easily, and those who recall their prior on-track history know that these next couple of weekends will have no shortage of action between the two.
After facing some troubles in the opening rounds of the season that initially put him on the backfoot, Cristian Perocarpi has made it his mission to charge back in his No. 37 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro. He has claimed three consecutive wins, and with a bit of luck, could find himself in another last lap battle at the Brickyard.
Despite facing a tough weekend at Road America, Ruben Iglesias Jr. still remains in contention in his No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N Cup. He has proven to be a worthy challenger, with two wins and five podiums to his credit. Although he may be a touch out of reach from the title, he is not shying away from the challenge.
TCA Class
Canadian driver PJ Groenke has been in a league of his own this year, making six different trips to victory lane in his No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW. With only a handful of races left, it appears improbable that he would lose his 89-point lead.
Although the likelihood of Groenke wrapping up the championship title hunt in the upcoming rounds in Alabama seems inevitable, second-place contender Alex Garcia is aiming to delay this outcome and scoop up more wins of his own in the No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1. Garcia has been the main competitor who has been able to rival Groenke’s pace, beating him to the checkered flag on four occasions.
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- September 6th-8th: Barber Motorsports Park
- October 3rd-6th: Indianapolis Motor Speedway