Acura Integra Type S And Honda Civic Si Triumph In Barber Motorsports Park Races

Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 1:54 [IST]

Celso Neto secured his fourth TCX victory in six races, driving the new Acura Integra Type S DE5 for the HART Alabama team. The Honda Civic Si FE1 also saw success with a debut win in the TCA class. Additionally, Racers Edge Motorsports' Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 achieved consecutive podium finishes in the GT World Challenge competition.

The penultimate weekend of the 2024 SRO Touring Car America and GT World Challenge America season took place at Barber Motorsports Park. Known for its challenging layout, the track featured elevation changes, blind corners, and technical turns. These elements played a significant role in the races, which were often decided by contact and penalties.

In the TCX class, Celso Neto piloted the HRC-developed Acura Integra Type S to his fourth win. Meanwhile, the HART Alabama team celebrated their first-ever victory with a Honda Civic Si FE1 in the TCA class. The team's home advantage at Barber was evident as they secured this milestone win.

Rounds 11-12 of the 2024 SRO season were fiercely contested. Celso Neto's performance in race one was notable; he qualified just 0.2 seconds off pole position and maintained pressure on the leader throughout. Despite a drive-through penalty for contact during an overtaking maneuver, Neto finished second.

In race two, Neto started from pole and faced constant pressure from his rival. He managed to regain and hold onto the lead, winning by less than half a second. This marked his ninth and tenth podiums of the season and his fourth victory in six races.

HART Alabama's Home Advantage

The HART Alabama team leveraged their familiarity with Barber Motorsports Park to secure their first SRO event podium with a Honda Civic Si FE1. Driver Karl Hertel's experience racing at this track paid off as he finished third in race one.

In race two, Hertel dominated, leading to an emotional victory for the team. The entire crew celebrated as Hertel crossed the finish line first, marking a successful debut for HART Alabama in 2024.

GT World Challenge: Consistent Podium Finishes

The Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 showed strong performance throughout practice sessions. Former IndyCar driver Zach Veach found the car smoother on Barber's course compared to an IndyCar. Despite initial setbacks in race one, Veach executed a strategic move to secure third place.

Race two saw similar drama as Veach started fifth but regained positions thanks to excellent pit stops by his team. Luca Mars replicated Veach's previous day's maneuver to clinch third place again, ensuring five consecutive podium finishes for their Acura NSX GT3.

Neto Reflects on His Performance

"Tough fight today! We kept the pressure on the leader for most of the race," said Celso Neto after race one. "After passing a car coming back we had an opportunity to overtake the leader, which resulted in contact during the maneuver."

"Victory! P1 today with a tough battle with our rival putting pressure the entire race," Neto commented after race two. "The whole race was keeping yourself calm, just don't lose your grip."

Upcoming Season Finale

The season will conclude at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from October 4-6. TC America drivers will compete in two sprint races while Fanatec GT World Challenge America fields will participate in an eight-hour endurance race.

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The final results from Barber included multiple podium finishes across different classes for both Acura and Honda teams:

TCX Saturday: 2nd - Celso Neto (#22), 3rd - Cooper Broll (#19), 5th - Christopher DeFreitas (#39)
TCA Saturday: 2nd - Alex Garcia (#14), 3rd - Karl Hertel (#93)
GT World Challenge Saturday: 3rd - Luca Mars and Zach Veach (#93)
TCX Sunday: 1st - Celso Neto (#22), 4th - Christopher DeFreitas (#39), 5th - Cooper Broll (#19)
TCA Sunday: 1st - Karl Hertel (#93), 3rd - Alex Garcia (#14)
GT World Challenge Sunday: 5th (3rd in class) - Luca Mars and Zach Veach (#93)