- Walsh, Carrus Callas Raceteam in Top Form in TCX
- Ricca, Hyundai Comes Back Swinging in TC
- Groenke, MINI JCW Team Extend Pole Streak in TCA
- Final Qualifying Results
Friday’s cloudy skies made way for the bright sun early Saturday morning, as TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School drivers took to the track, all eager to give it their best shot at setting the fastest lap time in their fifteen minute qualifying session.
Chris Walsh claimed the overall and TCX pole position ahead of Race 1, while Jeff Ricca went quickest in the TC Class. PJ Groenke set the fastest lap time in the TCA class.
TCX Class
Early in the session, Celso Neto rose to the top of the charts aboard his No. 22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S, thanks to a lap time of 1:34.484. He was closely followed by Chris Walsh in the No. 104 Carrus Callas Raceteam BMW M2 CS. Aaron Kaplan took over the second place on lap 4, inching closer to pole position in his No. 18 Kaplan Racing Systems BMW M2 CS.
However, Walsh was able to make a last attempt as the session neared its close, and went on to set the fastest time, claiming pole position on his fifth flying lap with a time of 1:34.294. Neto will line up alongside him on the starting grid in second, while Kaplan is set to occupy the second row, joined by Cooper Broll in the No. 19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S. Christopher DeFreitas rounded off the top 5 in his No. 39 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura Integra Type S.
TC Class
The No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC had a mishap in Friday afternoon’s Practice 2 session, but came back strong on Saturday morning to claim pole position in the TC class. This bodes well for Ricca’s ongoing championship title pursuit, as he will be looking to extend his current points advantage.
Sally McNulty went second quickest for the majority of the session, commanding her No. 780 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC. However, Cristian Perocarpi was able to set a flying lap that put his No. 37 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro ahead of her, moving himself up into second place, thus relegating her to third.
The TC class was further completed by Scott Thomson in fourth position in the No. 66 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW TC Pro.
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TCA Class
PJ Groenke added another pole position to his ongoing tally in the TCA class as he maneuvered his No. 62 MINI JCW Team MINI JCW around the track to record a time of 1:40.295, putting himself comfortably ahead of the next closest competitor.
Alex Garcia and new addition to the grid Karl Hertel were battling it out to see who would line up alongside Groenke. The margins were slim, but the advantage swung in Hertel’s direction, qualifying in second place in his No. 93 HART Alabama Honda Civic Si FE1, with Garcia coming in third in the No. 14 Skip Barber Racing Honda Civic Si FE1.
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Let’s Get Racing
The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School field will return to the track for Race 1 on Saturday, September 7th at 11:20 AM CT.
If you can’t make it to Barber Motorsports Park, 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 #GTBHM.