Sweden’s Westcoast Racing continued its winning streak at the Salzburgring, Austria today (31 May), with American driver Kevin Gleason capitalising on his hard-earned pole position with a lights-to-flag victory – his first in the TCR International Series and any other form of touring car racing.
A faultless drive followed an impeccable start as Gleason maintained a small but consistent gap to the SEAT Leon TCR of Stefano Comini.
Behind the lead battle, WestCoast Racing’s championship leader Gianni Morbidelli, carrying 30kg of success ballast after his double victory last time out at Monza, was in the mix of a considerable tussle with the SEAT’s around him.
A challenge for second position on lap ten opened the door for Pepe Oriola and others to squeeze through in the melee, dropping Morbidelli to sixth, but a spirited fight back saw the Italian retake Oriola for fifth, where he finished for solid points towards his championship total.
The team’s third driver, Ukranian Igor Skuz, was having battles of his own down the field, until an ultra-high speed spin put paid to his race, with flat-spotted tyres.
Gleason’s maiden win was long overdue and was very popular with the WestCoast team, which celebrated in style as the American took the chequered flag.
Pennsylvanian, Gleason, was equally pleased, saying: “I am really happy to get this win and to be part of this great team. After achieving two pole positions and two podium finishes so far, I needed to make the jump to the top step of the winners’ rostrum and it’s great to have done it here today for my championship and for all those who have helped me make it possible.”
In race two, Gleason and Morbidelli suffered from locking out the front row in the day’s earlier race, taking their positions on the fifth row of the reversed grid, while Skuz appeared to be the main benefactor, starting this race from pole position.
However, the start was not as WestCoast would have hoped, as Skuz was pushed wide at the first corner and Gleason was baulked for both to find themselves at and near the rear of the pack.
Morbidelli, benefiting from the confusion in the pack, rose to sixth position and that soon became third when two SEATs tripped over each other and Comini was punished for a jump-start.
Sadly, a heavy collision with Bas Schouten meant Skuz’s race went from bad to worse, while Gleason, having cleared Mikhail Grachev, charged up to the leading pack to finish sixth and collect another fastest lap – his fourth in as many races.
All of this took place under the watchful eye of Team Owner, Greger Petersson, who said of Gleason’s win: “That was a very mature drive by the young man; consistent and assured driving without a single mistake from lights-to-flag. It’s thoroughly deserved by Kevin and the great team around him, while Gianni (Morbidelli) extended his championship lead with a solid weekend. We have much to be happy about.”
With the Central European leg of the TCR International Series now concluded, WestCoast Racing and its drivers head for Russia and the Sochi Autodrom on (20-21 June), where they will look to continue their winning run and championship push.
For more information on WestCoast Racing, please visit the officialwww.westcoastracing.se website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page and follow@WestCoast Racing on Twitter.