Solano, Capestro-Dubets Sweep COTA Weekend

Photo: Dan Bathie/McLaren

Andre Solano and John-Capestro Dubets went back-to-back at the Circuit of The Americas to sweep the McLaren Trophy America weekend in the Lone Star State.

The No. 4 GMG Racing crew led a team 1-2 with Am class winner James Sofronas finishing runner-up, just 0.936 seconds off of their Pro class counterparts.

Capestro-Dubets led the 16-car field from the overall and Pro class pole ahead of Am class pole man Kevin Madsen, who was shuffled back at the start after early moves from Sofronas and Tommy Pintos on the opening lap.

However, Pinto’s efforts would be hampered by a drive-through penalty issued for a start procedure violation.

Despite temporarily losing the lead of the race in the pits to the RP Motorsports by Forte Racing McLaren, Solano quickly retook the lead on the race’s second restart to back up his and Capestro-Dubets’ Saturday victory with a Sunday win around the 3.41-mile Austin road course.

Colin Harrison completed the overall podium after a post-race time penalty for the then Pro-Am-leading Motorsports in Action entry was assessed, elevating the TechSport driver’s finishing position.

RAFA Racing Club’s Rafael Martinez and Jon Lancaster took the Pro-Am class win with a fourth-place finish after the 12.28-second penalty for a short pit stop was applied to the No. 43 Artura Trophy Evo of Alexandra Hainer and Jesse Lazare.

Nevertheless, Motorsports in Action finished second in class and completed the overall top five.

Pro-Am pole-sitter and then class leader Andrew Davis was left stranded after a lunge from Eric Filgueiras resulted in contact in the stadium section of the track and bringing out an early full-course caution and ending the Riley Motorsports driver’s race.

While Davis was able to continue, his co-driver John Dempsey brought out the race’s second yellow after pulling his No. 10 RWE machine over on track in Sector 2, setting up a 13-minute shootout for the win.

RESULTS: Race 2