Francis, Jr., and Rafa Matos Lead First Practice Sessions at Homestead-Miami
April 14, 2018
Sebastian Carazo Paces TA3 as Teams Prepare Quick Turn for Second Practice
HOMESTEAD, Fla. [April 14, 2018] – The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli opened action for the South Florida Sportscar Challenge at Homestead-Miami Speedway today with an initial set of practice sessions.
In the TA class it was last year’s Homestead-Miami victor, and TA defending champion, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Frameless Shower Doors Ford Mustang, who led the way with a session leading 1:16.871-lap. Francis, who considers Homestead-Miami his home track, is a native of nearby Dania, Fla., and in well versed in the 2.27-mile, 10 turn modified road course and owns the race record for the TA class, a 1:17.496.
Francis was followed in the session by Lawrence Loshak, in the No. 2 Pennzoil/ETE/GoShare Chevrolet Corvette, who turned a 1:17.211, immediately rebounding from a mechanical-hampered outing last round at Road Atlanta. Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, and Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, were close behind, with times of 1:17.336 and 1:17.353, respectively.
The TA2 class was led by Rafa Matos, hot off a victory at Road Atlanta in the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro, carrying that momentum out onto the Homestead-Miami track with a 1:20.039 lap to lead the 21-car TA2 field. Matos, a resident of Boca Raton, Fla., was followed in the session by another Florida resident with Jordan Bupp, of Fort Laurderdale and in the No. 80 DonateLife.com Ford Mustang, turning a second quick 1:20.795 lap.
Tony Buffomante, in the No. 34 Mike Cope Racing Ford Mustang, was third fastest in the session with a 1:20.825, while Jan Heylen, making his TA2 debut in the No. 87 3-Dimensional Services Group Chevrolet Camaro, was fourth with a time of 1:20.957. Scott Lagasee, in the No. 95 Team SLR/M1 Fastrack Chevrolet Camaro, completed the class’ top five with a 1:21.107 lap.
Also featuring in the TA2 top ten were, in order: Tom Sheehan, Marc Miller, Keith Prociuk, Kyle Marcelli and Ethan Wilson.
.jpg)
In the TA3 class, Trans Am debutant Sebastian Carazo, in the No. 61 TLM USA Racing/ Allied Car & Truck Porsche 991.1, turned a 1:22.877 fast lap for the production based class. Carazo was followed on the charts by Road Atlanta victor, and 2017 Homestead-Miami victor, Randy Kinsland, in the No. 11 Crossroad Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, who logged a 1:23.960 lap of his own. Alline Cipriani, in the No. 60 Ginetta Cars Ginetta G55, completed the TA3 top three with a time of 1:25.919.
Trans Am teams and drivers will return to the Homestead-Miami surface in short order for a second set of practice sessions commencing at 11:20 AM EDT.
Fans can keep up with the event and all of the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam
TA, TA3 and TA4 Practice 1 Results (PDF)
Full session results forthcoming.
Remaining Event Schedule
Saturday April 14, 2018
11:20 AM — 11:50 AM TA/TA3/TA4 Practice 2
11:55 AM — 12:25 PM TA2 Practice 2
2:40 PM — 3:00 PM TA Qualifying
3:15 PM — 3:35 PM TA3/TA4 Qualifying
3:50 PM — 4:10 PM TA2 Qualifying
Sunday April 15, 2018
9:20 AM — 10:35 AM South Florida Sportscar Challenge, TA/TA3/TA4
2:20 PM — 3:15 PM TA2 Muscle Car Challenge powered by AEM
All times EDT
Circuit:
2.27-miles, 10-turns – Modified Road Course at Homestead-Miami
Race Lengths:
102.15-miles/ 45 laps or 75 minutes whichever comes first.
