- Castro Takes Win from Pole
- Ricca Autosport places four cars inside the top seven
- Provisional Race 2 Results
The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing field returned to Sonoma Raceway for race two, delivering another action-packed contest as drivers battled across the field in the early stages of the 2026 season. With momentum on the line, the race quickly developed into a multi-car fight at the front, backed by intense battles deeper in the order.
Andre Castro got a clean launch from pole in the No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo, maintaining the lead through the opening laps as Braydon Arthur slotted into second aboard the No. 4 JMF Motorsports Toyota GR Corolla TC. Just behind, Dean Lambros held third in the No. 7 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type-S DE5, immediately applying pressure to the front runners.
While Arthur came under early pressure from Lambros, Castro faced an even greater challenge out front, with the top three running closely together in the opening stages. After struggling in traffic during race one, Castro made full use of clean air this time around, steadily building a gap as the race progressed.
Behind him, Arthur began to find rhythm, putting in strong laps to stay within striking distance, while Lambros remained firmly in contention despite concerns over his Acura, which showed signs of light smoke after earlier issues in the weekend. On lap seven, Lambros’ race took another turn when he lost a portion of bodywork, adding to an already challenging outing, yet he continued to maintain competitive pace.
Further back, one of the most intense battles on track unfolded between Eric Kunz in the No. 33 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo, Justin Gravett in the No. 8 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo, and Matan Rosenberg in the No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo, as the trio fought nose-to-tail for positions inside the top six. Gravett applied relentless pressure lap after lap, even pushing the limits to the extreme at one point by lifting his car onto two wheels in a dramatic near-rollover moment while attempting a pass on Kunz. The incident forced Rosenberg to check up, opening the door for Mike Lamarra to capitalize and move forward in the No. 73 Precision Racing LA Acura Integra Type-S DE5.
At the checkered flag, Andre Castro secured a well-earned victory in the No. 77 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo, with Arthur finishing just 1.013 seconds behind in the No. 4 JMF Motorsports Toyota GR Corolla TC. Lambros completed the podium in the No. 7 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type-S DE5, marking a strong recovery drive and delivering a top-three finish for Acura. Notably, three different manufacturers in Hyundai, Toyota, and Acura were represented on the podium, highlighting the competitiveness of the field.
Kunz held on to fourth in the No. 33 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo after a hard-fought battle, followed by Gravett in fifth in the No. 8 entry. Lamarra brought his No. 73 Precision Racing LA Acura home in sixth, while Rosenberg rounded out seventh in the No. 78 Ricca Autosport Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo after being caught up in the mid-pack fight.
“It’s incredible,” said Castro after the race. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won, and to do it here with this team means everything. We’ve been through a lot, and it just feels really good to be back in victory lane.”
Arthur reflected on the tight battle at the front, noting the importance of consistency: “He was able to be a bit more consistent than I was. I made a few small mistakes, but it’s going to be close all season.”
For Lambros, the podium marked a successful recovery effort after a difficult start to the weekend. “The goal was to salvage the weekend with a podium, and we did just that. Huge credit to the team for the work they put in.”
With two races complete, the championship battle is already shaping up to be a tightly contested fight.
Up Next
The TC America powered by Skip Barber field will return for the third and fourth rounds of the season at Circuit of The Americas from April 24th to 26th, 2025.