Shane Lewis Kicks Off COTA Weekend Atop TA2 Charts
November 2, 2018
AUSTIN, Texas. [November 2, 2018] — The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli officially commenced its penultimate round of the 2018 championship at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) with a practice session for the TA2 class, making preparations for this afternoon’s qualifying for the COTA Muscle Car Challenge.
Leading the way for the 28 car TA2 field was last year’s COTA victor Shane Lewis, piloting the No. 92 Turn Key Industries/ Surphis Chevrolet Camaro for Napoleon Motorsports, turning a 2:14.010 around the 20-turn, 3.427 mile circuit on his fourth lap of the session.
While Lewis sat out last round at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), his most recent appearance, coming at Watkins Glen International, was a season best second place. With Lewis and the No. 92 in strong form, and with his proven success at COTA, he should be one of the drivers to watch throughout the weekend.
Following Lewis on the COTA charts was his former TA2 teammate, and current Robinson Racing teammate in Pirelli World Challenge, Texas’ own Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, setting a 2:14.685 lap of his own. Robinson has finished on the COTA podium twice before, a third place in his 2015 championship season and a second in 2016, falling just short to race-winner Dillon Machavern.
Rafa Matos, crowned 2018 TA2 champion last round at VIR, continued his season-long fast streak behind the wheel of the No. 88 3-Dimensional Services Chevrolet Camaro, with a 2:14.754 lap for third quick in session.
The TA2 top five was completed by Louis-Philippe Montour, in the No. 13 Montour Ltd Chevrolet Camaro, and Misha Goikhberg, in the No. 25 BC Race Cars/ Ottawa West Development Chevrolet Camaro, with times of 2:15.392 and 2:15.815, respectively.
The top ten also featured, in order, Scott Lagasse, Jr., Tony Buffomante, Edward Sevadjian, Tom Sheehan and Joe Napoleon.
The TA2 class will return to the track at 5:50 PM CDT this afternoon for qualifying, setting the order for tomorrow’s 102.81 mile, 30 lap COTA Muscle Car Challenge, scheduled to commence at 10:55 AM CDT.
Trans Am’s TA, TA3 and TA4 classes will commence official sessions on Saturday at 1:10 PM CDT with a practice session in preparation for Sunday’s COTA Trans Am 100.
Trans Am features on the Circuit of The Americas weekend alongside the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association holding the US Vintage Racing National Championship.
Fans can keep up with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli throughout the event at www.gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
Race Lengths:
30 laps/ 70 minutes/ 102.81 miles
Circuit:
20 turns, 3.427 miles
Session Coverage:
Live Timing: All on-track sessions can be followed at www.gotransam.com and on the Race Monitor app available on Windows, Android, iOS and OSX.
Text Commentary: Updates provided throughout sessions on Twitter at @gotransam.
Event Schedule:
Friday November 2, 2018
5:50 PM - 6:05 PM TA2 Qualifying
Saturday November 3, 2018
10:55 AM - 12:10 PM TA2 Muscle Car Challenge powered by AEM
1:10 PM - 1:30 PM TA, TA3, TA4 Practice
5:25 PM - 5:42 PM TA Qualifying
5:47 PM - 6:05 PM TA3, TA4 Qualifying
Sunday November 4, 2018
11:15 AM - 12:25 PM TA, TA3 and TA4 Race
