Official Hyundai team Ricca Autosport delivered a composed and competitive performance in Round 2 of the TC America championship, showcasing continued driver development, strategic racecraft, and strong team cohesion across a demanding weekend in Texas heat. With temperatures climbing into the high 80s, the focus extended beyond outright pace—placing emphasis on communication, adaptability, and extracting the most from the Hyundai package against strong straight-line competitors.
A key storyline for the weekend was the evolution of team principal Jeff Ricca’s role. Transitioning from primary setup engineer to a more leadership-focused position, Ricca has been working closely with drivers to develop their engineering language—empowering them to better articulate feedback and take a more active role in dialing in the cars. The shift is already paying dividends, with drivers showing increased confidence and clarity throughout the weekend.
“We know where we’re strong, and we know where we need to improve. This is all part of the process, and the drivers are stepping up in a big way.” said Jeff Ricca, adding “Castro raced at 110% all weekend and I’m proud of the drivers for getting the most they possibly could out of the car,”
Strong Pace Established in Practice
Thursday’s practice sessions set a positive tone early, with Andre Castro and Justin Gravett leading the charge. Castro secured P2 in both sessions, improving from a 2:26.60 in Practice 1 to a 2:26.28 in Practice 2, while Gravett consistently ran within the top five at his home circuit. Eric Kunz also demonstrated solid pace, finishing P4 in the opening session.
For CJ Sepulveda and PJ Groenke, the weekend marked a return to the car after time away, with steady progress made session by session.
Race 1: Calculated Drives and Midfield Battles
Friday’s opening race saw Ricca Autosport drivers deliver disciplined and strategic performances across the field. Castro wasted no time advancing from P3 to P2 on the opening lap, positioning himself within striking distance of the lead battle between the JMF Toyota and Skip Barber entries.
Maintaining a consistent gap of roughly one second to the leaders, Castro drove a clean and composed race, ultimately securing a well-earned P3 finish. Gravett followed closely behind in P4, navigating early pressure and executing a key pass on Lamarra midway through the race.
Further back, the midfield battle intensified. Shelby Mills impressed with a strong charge through the field, climbing from P10 to P8 and earning the Supercharger Award, while Kunz recovered from early contact on lap one to finish P6. CJ Sepulveda and PJ Groenke remained in the mix throughout a tightly contested pack, but after Groenke went a little too hard over the curbing he had to drive himself in to the pits on the last lap with a broken front suspension.
Race 2: Podium Fight and Relentless Competition
Saturday’s Race 2 featured one of the most intense battles of the weekend, with Castro starting from pole position and immediately under pressure from multiple challengers. After an aggressive opening lap shuffled the order, Castro found himself locked in a three-way fight for the podium.
Despite strong straight-line pace from Toyota and Acura competitors, Castro demonstrated exceptional racecraft, defending position and capitalizing on corner performance to remain competitive. A dramatic final lap saw him go nearly side-by-side into the final corners, ultimately securing another P3 finish and back-to-back podiums for the weekend.
Gravett delivered another consistent drive to P5, while Kunz once again showed resilience following overnight repairs by the crew, who worked until 1 a.m. to ensure the car was race-ready. Sepulveda, Mills, and Groenke continued their close-quarters battle throughout the race, with positions changing multiple times before finishing P8, P9, and P10 respectively.
Fan Engagement and Hyundai Presence
Off track, the weekend highlighted Hyundai’s growing community presence. A record-breaking 65 vehicles from the Hyundai N Club of Texas filled the paddock, marking the largest turnout in the region to date. Fans engaged directly with the team through an expanded hot lap program, with over 40 participants experiencing rides in the racecars. Additional guests from a local Hyundai of Leander, TX dealership—organized by Melissa Gravett—further strengthened the connection between the team and its supporter base.
Looking Ahead
With two podium finishes and strong performances across the driver lineup, Ricca Autosport leaves Texas with valuable points and continued momentum. Castro’s dominant showing in the opening rounds of the Hyundai N Trophy Cup Championship—including two wins—positions him as the early leader in the standings, with the opportunity to compete internationally in Korea on the line.
As the season progresses, the team remains focused on refining performance, strengthening driver communication, and maximizing the Hyundai platform against an increasingly competitive field.
Andre Castro – #77 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo
“It was another really solid weekend for us at COTA. We managed to earn two wins in the Hyundai N Trophy Cup and are leading the standings! Overall, we finished third both days in TC, which keeps up my 100% podium rate on the series. Race 2, in poarticular had some great battles with the Acuras. The team did an amazing job as always and I can’t wait for Sebringin just a few days. Thanks again to Hyundai Motorsport, GenRacer, Ricca Autosport, Borkan & Scahill LTD, and Olivia Racing for all the support.”
Justin Gravett – #8 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo
“Wrapped up the weekend at COTA with two top five finishes. It was the first time this season we really had to deal with the heat, so tire management and adapting to how the car changed over a run were key. I learned a lot about how to handle those conditions and stay consistent throughout the race. I think we can take what we learned this weekend and apply it to Sebring.”
PJ Groenke – #76 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo
“Great to be back with Ricca Autosport and Hyundai Motor America in the Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo! Not the weekend I wanted in terms of results but the pace is there, just need a better qualifying result and we’ll be up front in the mix where we belong. Can’t wait for Sebring in two weeks!”
Eric Kunz – #33 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo
“Tough weekend results wise but over 1 lap I was fast. Now it comes down to building up the consistency. After the contact in race 1 the team did a great job getting the car ready and back on track for race 2. I’m so thankful for all the support from Ricca Autosport and all the amazing people that joined us from the Texas N Club!’
CJ Sepúlveda – #78 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC Evo
“While my performance at COTA wasn’t up to par with what was seen from me last year, it has been one of my most fun race weekends! I’m really happy to have kept the car clean the whole weekendwhile getting some action; I truly am living my dreams. With a new track under my belt, we now look forward to the great bumps of Sebring.”
Shelby Mills – Fawn Group Motorsports by Ricca
#18 Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO
“What an awesome weekend at COTA for Round 1 of the Hyundai N Trophy cup. The Fawn Group MS by Ricca Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO was once again flawless all weekend, the field is so tight, the racing is so good and I cant wait for Sebring in a few weeks! Thanks to the whole team, and all the N Club members for showing up to support!”
Media Contact:
Alicia Busa
alicia@aliciabusa.com
440-667-0079
About Ricca Autosport:
Ricca Autosport is the official SRO Hyundai USA partner competing in the SRO TC America Powered by Skip Barber Racing School. A Motorsports Logistics Company, Ricca Autosport offers sales, support, and service. With three team and manufacturer championships and two driver championships since 2023 they have the race winning experience and hardware to deliver results for their partners and drivers. For more information, visit ricca-autosport.com and tcamerica.us