TC America @ Austin
Mason Filippi opens the season with a
double win
Mason Filippi driving a
TFB Performance Hyundai Veloster N scored a double victory in the TC
America opener at Austin's Circuit of the Americas.
In Saturday's Race 1, Filippi recovered from the back of the field where
he had been dropped by a penalty for an overboost infringement that had
stripped him of pole position. Nate Vincent in the FCP Euro Volkswagen
Golf GTI inherited the pole, but was hit by a technical issue in the warm
up lap and had to start behind the cars of the slower TCA class.
Vincent's teammate Michael Hurczyn took command, but it took only four
laps to Filippi to recover and steal the lead from him. The Hyundai
pulled away, while Vincent elbowed his way through the field until the
third place. In the final part of the race Vincent closed the gap from
Hurczyn, but not enough to try an overtaking manoeuvre.
Canadian driver Alain Lauzière finished fourth overall in the Alphasonic
Motorsport Audi RS 3 LMS and won the DSG Cup.
Filippi made good use of the pole at the start of Sunday's Race 2 and led
from Vincent and Hurczyn. After a safety car intervention to recover a
car of the TCA class, racing resumed on lap 4. Behind the leaders Lauzière
overtook Bryan Putt and Michael McCann to take command in the DSG Cup.
On lap 13, Fillippi got stuck in the TCA traffic and Vincent closed in,
only 0.5 seconds behind with five minutes to go. However, the Hyundai
driver increased his pace and extended his leading margin again to nearly
two seconds under the chequered flag.
James Walker's Risi Competizione Alfa Romeo Giulietta was the quickest
car in the final part of the race, advancing to fourth and setting the
fastest lap. Walker was chasing Hurczyn, but eventually finished fourth
by half-a-second. Lauzière won the DSG Cup again from Putt and Nelson
Chan.
“It was a great
weekend. I had great battles with the FCP Euro guys and I’m really glad
to be on the podium with them. The Veloster N held on strong through the
entire weekend. It started out first and ended up first. TFB Performance
is great and I’m so thankful for my family for being here. I can’t wait
for the next one,” a delighted Filippi said.
TC America will resume next week, March 8/10 at St. Petersburg, for
rounds 3 and 4.
Race 1
1. Mason Filippi (TFB Performance, Hyundai Veloster N) 16
laps
2. Michael Hurczyn (FCP Euro, Volkswagen Golf GTI) 8.980
3. Nate Vincent (FCP Euro, Volkswagen Golf GTI) 10.073
Race 2
1. Mason Filippi (TFB Perfomance, Hyundai Veloster N) 16 laps
2. Nate Vincent (FCP Euro, Volkswagen Golf GTI) 1.990
3. Michael Hurczyn (FCP Euro, Volkswagen Golf GTI) 11.885
Championship points
1. Filippi 51 pts; 2. Hurczyn 44; 2. Vincent 44; 4. Lauzière 36; 5.
Walker 35
Photos: SRO-Gavin Baker /
SRO-Brian Cleary
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