WestCoast Racing took a sensational victory with American driver, Kevin Gleason, as well as a podium finish for Gianni Morbidelli in front of the Formula 1 paddock on the floodlit street of Singapore (19-20 September).
Morbidelli and Gleason started the first of two TCR International Series races on the Marina Bay street circuit from second and third places respectively, but reversed positions off the line while defending from the advancing Pepe Oriola and maintaining pressure on race leader, Stefano Comini.
However, Gleason took the lead in an opportunistic fashion on lap eight of ten when Comini momentarily slowed and the Pennsylvanian maintained a faultless line to hold off the resurgent SEAT racer during the final laps to achieve his second race win and WestCoast Racing’s fifth victory of their maiden international touring car season.
Morbidelli, meanwhile, finished third and the results helped to consolidate WestCoast Racing’s third position in the Teams’ standings.
“It was a tough race and a nice second win for me, no doubt,” said Gleason. “I took a good start but had a lot of pressure from Pepe Oriola and Gianni (Morbidelli) in the early laps, then my pace improved and I could take the lead when Stefano (Comini) had to lift off due to some troubles.
“In the closing laps I was under great pressure again. It was definitely, a tough race, also because of the heat and night conditions, but my experience in long distance races helped there.”
WestCoast Racing now turns its attention to the second TCR International Series race of the weekend, which acts as the curtain-raiser to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix (Sunday 20 September), although the reversed grid will see yesterday’s victors face an uphill challenge from P8 and P9.