Robusto Hangs On to Win Race 2 in Sonoma

Photo: Fred Hardy/SRO

Will Robusto hung on to win a close battle with Jaxon Bell in the second race of the Toyota GR Cup North America weekend at Sonoma Raceway.

The RVA Graphics Motorsports by Speed Syndicate driver survived a pair of restarts and near race-long pressure from Bell behind to take the checkered flag with a 0.823-second margin of victory in his No. 2 Toyota GR86.

Robusto led the 31-car field to green in a single-file start following an additional formation lap on a damp but drying racetrack.

Behind, Bell pounced on Max Schweid to take over second place at the start in his No. 7 Copeland Motorsports GR86, quickly closing in on Robusto’s lead.

Bell remained attached to the RVA driver’s bumper, applying consistent pressure for the lead following both of the race’s restarts.

The two became locked in a lengthy battle for the win in the final ten minutes of racing, with Robusto ultimately able to hold his advantage at the head of the field and take the win.

Drama for the final podium position saw the No. 71 TechSport Toyota of Christian Weir cross the line in third after a multi-car collision on the final lap.

BSI Racing’s Westin Workman moved up to fourth after multiple cars fell by the wayside as a result of the last-lap contact, with Ethan Goulart rounding out the top five.

While running third, Ethan Ayars spun on the final lap amidst side-by-side contact with eventual podium finisher Weir at the Turn 9 chicane, collecting Legends Cup driver John Dean in the process.

Spike Kohlbecker, who appeared to be on track for a fifth-place finish, also collected damage in the melee and faded down the order to eighth in the final moments of the race.

Race 1 winner Lucas Weisenberg was on the move early, making up significant ground in the opening laps, propelling his No. 46 BSI Racing Toyota up the order after starting ninth.

However, Weisenberg’s run would end early, bringing out a full-course yellow with just over 30 minutes remaining, when he stopped his BSI machine on track at Turn 7A.

Later on, Legends driver John Lennon was hit and spun by the stablemate Beltre Curtis, triggering the race’s second caution period for the recovery of the No. 5 Copeland Motorsports machine.

RESULTS: Race 2