- Celso Neto sweeps the weekend with TCX pole, fastest lap, and victory in the new Integra Type S
- Multiple Acura Integras on the podium in both TCX events
- Double podium results for Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO22
The SRO Motorsports Group arrived at America’s National Park of Speed, Road America, for rounds 9 and 10 of the 2024 season this weekend, where Acura and Honda teams earned multiple wins and podiums in both TC America and Fanatec GT World Challenge America events.
The weekend was highlighted by the HRC-developed TCX Acura Integra Type S piloted by Celso Neto sweeping the weekend: starting on pole, earning the fastest lap, and claiming victory for both races.
TC AMERICA POWERED BY SKIP BARBER
TCX Acura Integra Type S DE5
Celso Neto started the weekend strong, earning his first career pole in the new Integra Type S for Saturday’s opening race, and things only got better from there. As the race started, he never relinquished his lead, but it wasn’t always easy as he went side-by-side a few times with the second-place car in the early laps.
In his Integra Type S, Cooper Broll, started 4th and drove a highly competitive race as he swapped positions with the 3rd place car four times in the first 12 minutes of the race. Broll had the Acura handling great making multiple passes in the corners. A safety car period bunched up the field late, but Neto was able to pull away earning his 2nd victory of the year. Broll joined him on the 3rd step as he earned his 2nd consecutive podium and the Super Fuel Hard Charger award.
Sunday’s Race 2 found Celso Neto once again starting on the pole with Cooper Broll starting 3rd. A huge move by Broll into turn 1 on lap 1 saw him slide the Integra sideways to make the pass into 2nd place.
Placing himself behind his teammate allowed Neto to pull out a few second lead by the end of lap one. A technical problem lead Broll to make an unexpected pit stop, but opened the door for another Integra driver, Christopher DeFreitas. DeFreitas has been working hard all season and was finally rewarded by running a strong clean race and earning a career best 3rd place to make it is another dual Acura podium. Neto has now won 3 of the last 4 races in his Acura Integra Type S.
TCA Honda Civic Si FE1
Coming into Road America, Alex Garcia taken his Honda Civic Si to victory lane 3 straight races, and 4 of the last 5. He started the weekend by qualifying second for Saturday’s race and was able to run a clean race bringing home his 6th straight podium in 3rd place. Sunday’s race saw Garcia swapping spots throughout the first half with the 2nd place driver before a suspension issue caused him to retire early.
FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE AMERICA POWERED BY AWS
Acura NSX GT3
The Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX unloaded off the trailer hooked up for Road America as the team laid down the fastest lap in practice before qualifying 3rd for Saturday’s race 1. Luca Mars started the race on a quickly drying track and immediately moved into 2nd in what was clearly his best stint of the season. 30 minutes into the race he made an outstanding move to pass for the lead on the outside of the famous Canada Corner. This allowed the team to lead their first laps this season before Mars pitted from the lead.
Unfortunately, during the stop his co-driver Veach’s seat insert pinned the seatbelt under it, leading to Veach having to get out to fix it and causing a 10-second delay to their stop. The unexpected delay was a little too much to overcome, despite Veach laying down some lighting fast laps and getting the car back into 2nd place overall. He finished just 0.7 seconds behind the leader for their best result of the year.
Race 2 started a lot rougher than race 1, as they qualified 7th and were shoved off-track on lap one. Veach was able to maintain control, but it put them down to 10th. Luca Mars took overall for the second half and was able to methodically pick off cars getting the NSX back up a respectable 3rd in class, 5th overall. The NSX has now podiumed three straight races.
Quotes
Celso Neto (#22 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S DE5) “A lot has gone into getting this car ready with this brand-new platform. Everyone at HRC has been working hard and I can’t thank them enough. Couldn’t have been a better weekend! The car was great and thanks to the whole Skip Barber team.”
Cooper Broll (#19 Skip Barber Racing Acura Integra Type S DE5) “It was a crazy race Saturday! From the beginning battling back and forth with a competitor, both passing each other multiple times back and forth. A crazy but hard fought, really fun race, with a lot of passes.”
Luca Mars (#93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3) "Zach and I had our best weekend so far. We’re going to carry this momentum to Barber Motorsports Park in a few weeks. We keep getting more comfortable with the car and team keeps making it faster, want to thank them for that. Going for the top step in Barber!”
Zach Veach (#93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3): “Very happy with the best weekend we’ve had this season. A 2nd and 3rd place is a testament to how hard Racers Edge has been working. As well as Honda Racing HRC, for all the work they did going into this weekend, they put a lot of effort in and we showed up with an absolute rocket ship! Big thank you to Racers Edge. Big thank you to HRC.”
Next
With all of the American Honda products earning podiums across the classes this weekend, the teams are really looking forward to getting back to competition next month. The TC America powered by Skip Barber Racing School and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS fields will return on track September 6-8 at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama.
TCX Road America Saturday Race Results
1st TCX - #22 Celso Neto, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S (Fastest Lap)
3rd TCX - #19 Cooper Broll, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S (Hard Charger Award)
4th TCX - #39 Christopher DeFreitas, Racers Edge Motorsports, Acura Integra Type S
TCA Road America Saturday Race Results
3rd TCA - #14 Alex Garcia, Skip Barber Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1
GT World Challenge America Road America Saturday Race Results
2nd - #93 Luca Mars and Zach Veach, Racers Edge Motorsports, NSX GT3
TCX Road America Sunday Race Results
1st TCX - #22 Celso Neto, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S (Fastest Lap)
3rd TCX - #39 Christopher DeFreitas, Racers Edge Motorsports, Acura Integra Type S (Hard Charger Award)
4th TCX - #19 Cooper Broll, Skip Barber Racing, Acura Integra Type S
TCA Road America Sunday Race Results
DNF TCA - #14 Alex Garcia, Skip Barber Racing, Honda Civic Si FE1
GT World Challenge America Road America Sunday Race Results
5th (3rd in class) - #93 Luca Mars and Zach Veach, Racers Edge Motorsports, NSX GT3
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