Scott Smithson claims maiden TC America win
The 10th round of TC America finally offered a new race winner in Scott Smithson with the DXDT Racing Honda Civic Type R. And, also a new podium finisher in Tim Lewis who was classified second on his maiden appearance at the wheel of a KMW Motorsports Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
The winning streak of Tyler Maxson came to an end after nine consecutive victories when the Copeland Motorsports Hyundai Veloster N retired with a broken suspension.
At the start Smithson’s Honda and Lewis’ Alfa Romeo were faster than Maxson’s Hyundai that was sandwiched between the two other Honda cars of Victor González and Olivia Askew. The latter tried to pass Maxson on the outside during the first lap but spun off and this prompted the safety car into action.
When racing resumed Smithson and Lewis led, while González passed Maxson for P3; soon afterwards the championship leader slowed and then retired into the pits with a broken front suspension.
In lap 4, both Lewis and González overtook Smithson, moving up into first and second respectively. Lewis kept the lead until lap 6, when González managed to overtake him; two laps later the Alfa Romeo driver lost the second place as well to Smithson.
In the second half of the race, González was able to build a gap, while Smithson was closely chased by Lewis. But then, on lap 11, González pitted with a flat front tyre, which promoted Smithson and Lewis to first and second, and this is the way they finished, with a distant CJ Moses completing the podium.
Race 3 is scheduled for 9:30 local time (16:30 CEST) on Sunday; live streaming at www.tcr-series.com.
Race 2
1. Scott Smithson (DXDT Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 16 laps
2. Tim Lewis (KMW Motorsports, Alfa Romeo Giulietta), 2.273
3. CJ Moses (DXDT Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 50.397
4. Victor González (VGMC Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 1:57.751
Championship standings
1. Tyler Maxson 225 pts; 2. Victor González 132; 3. Scott Smithson 107
Picture: SRO Motorsports
