Cliff Ebben leads the way as Trans Am debuts at COTA with practice
November 5, 2015
Shane Lewis, Ernie Francis, Jr., set pace in TA2 and TA3
AUSTIN, Texas. [November 5, 2015] – The Trans Am Series made its official debut at the Circuit of The Americas today, commencing Round 11 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship with the first of two practice sessions. In total, 50 members of the 52 car field elected to participate in the session as drivers continue to learn the 3.427-mile, 20-turn course.
Cliff Ebben, in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang, led the way for the field and the TA class, turning a 2:11.965 lap. Ebben, a perennial front runner in the TA class, is yet to reach the top step of the podium in 2015 despite numerous podium appearances. Now in contention for third on the year-end Championship podium, Ebben will aim to maintain that form throughout the weekend here at COTA to that coveted third position.
Ebben was followed in the TA class by current points runner-up Paul Fix, in the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, and current points leader Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, with times of 2:12.380 and 2:13.810. The two drivers, two-three in the session, are in the final throws of a yearlong battle for the 2015 Trans Am Championship. With only two rounds remaining and little to no margin for error, every second on the track is pivotal to their individual championship campaigns.
The TA class top five was rounded out by John Baucom, in the No. RoadRaceParts.com Ford Mustang, and Simon Gregg, in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, with times of 2:13.899 and 2:15.133, respectively.
The TA2 class was led by road racing veteran and Trans Am rookie, Shane Lewis, in the No. 72 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, who turned a 2:16.839 lap to set the tone for the weekend. Lewis, currently on the cusp of third in the TA2 point standings, has one pole position to his name so far this season last round at NOLA Motorsports Park—he’ll look to replicate his speed from practice and double his pole tally later today in Fast Five qualifying.
Lewis was followed in the session by Mike Cope Racing teammates rookie JJ Haley, in the No. 99 BraunAbility Chevrolet Camaro, and Lawrence Loshak, in the No. 5 Raybestos Powertrain Ford Mustang, with times of 2:17.180 and 2:17.649. Rookie Kyle Marcelli, in the No. 96 MsFastrack/PersonalChef2Go, and Lewis’ teammate Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Chevrolet Camaro, were fourth and fifth in the TA2 class with times of 2:17.832 and 2:17.998, respectively.
In TA3 American Muscle, Ernie Francis, Jr., in the No. 98 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro, led the way with a 2:25.511 lap time, unrelenting despite securing the American Muscle Championship last round at NOLA Motorsports Park. He will now aim for his 11th consecutive pole this afternoon. Francis was followed immediately by Todd Napieralski, in the No 39 Tremec/SKF/BackstreetPerformance Chevrolet Camaro, with a time of 2:25.749, the only other American Muscle competitor to win a race this year, with two to his name. Napieralski will aim to secure second position in the American Muscle Championship over the next two rounds, capturing year-end silverware of his own. Francis’ Breathless Racing teammate, Dave Ricci, in the No. 71 Southeast Guardrail Chevrolet Camaro, was third in the group with a time of 2:34.631.
Fernando Seferlis, in the No. 28 Compulab Panama Aston Martin GT4, made his International Group debut on the year, departing from his usual American Muscle entry. The sole entrant in the class, Seferlis led the way with a 2:38.593 lap.
Trans Am will return to the track at Circuit of The Americas for Fast Five Qualifying this afternoon beginning at 3:00 pm CT with each class receiving its own qualifying session beginning with TA, then TA2, and with TA3 closing out the day.
For more throughout the weekend keep up at gotransam.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gotransam and on Twitter at @gotransam.
