(Daily Express)
Sebastian Vettel (No. 5 Scuderia Ferrari) robbed Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport) of victory in the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2018 season. It was Vettel's 48th win in F1. After a software malfunction crippled Hamilton, the reigning champion lost out to Vettel during a virtual safety car period. Hamilton started from the pole and had the race well in hand up to that point, he and his Mercedes in top form; he ended up second. Kimi Räikkönen (No. 7 Scuderia Ferrari) finished third.
(Pirelli World Challenge)
Toni Vilander/Miguel Molina (No. 61 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3) swept the first two rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX series at the Circuit of the Americas in the Grand Prix of Texas in Austin, Texas, last weekend. Vilander, a past Le Mans champion from Finland, and Molina, a factory Ferrari driver from Spain, drove to another impressive win Sunday (after their win on Saturday) in the 60-minute, two-driver feature by defeating Mike Skeen/Scott Heckert (No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3) by 2.521-seconds in the 28-lap Round 2 contest in the Pro-Pro category. The Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX Rounds 3 and 4 are on the SprintX schedule at VIRginia International Raceway in Danville, Va., on April 27-29. The next PWC GT Sprint race will be a GT/GTS event in the streets of Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 44th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13-15.
(Pirelli World Challenge)
Jade Buford and Scott Maxwell (No. 55 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4) won Saturday’s GTS SprintX Round 1 60-minute feature in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas at Circuit of the Americas. Buford/Maxwell finished 1.277 seconds ahead of 18-year-old Harry Gottsacker (No. 69 Racers Edge Motorsports SIN R1 GT4) and averaged 73.25 mph on the 3.427-mile circuit southeast of downtown Austin. Gottsacker, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, drove solo with a weight penalty in his race car to finish second at his home track. Third overall went to the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R driven by pro driver Michael Cooper, the 2017 GT SprintX Pro-Pro champion, and veteran Am competitor Tony Gaples.
(Pirelli World Challenge)
James Sofronas teamed with Alex Welch (No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS) to win Sunday’s Round 2 GTS SprintX 60-minute feature in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas at the Circuit of the Americas. Stevan McAleer/Justin Raphael (No. 17 Raphael & Associates/Classic BMW BMW M4 GT4) finished second, followed by Tan/Wittmer (No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4) in third.
(Pirelli World Challenge)
Mark Wilkins (No. 99 BHA Hyundai i30 N TCR) of Mulmur, Ont., Canada, led a 1-2 Hyundai sweep with his Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian teammate Michael Lewis in Round 2 of the opening TCR Class events in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas. Wilkins, pole winner in both TCR contests at COTA this weekend, protected his position entering turn one at the 3.427-mile, 20-turn race track southeast of Austin. The 34-year-old sports car veteran kept a strong pace throughout the 14-lap race and held off Lewis, the Saturday TCR winner, by 0.512 seconds at the checkered flag. The impressive performance by the Hyundai i30 N TCR hatchbacks saw Wilkins sweep practice, qualifying and Round 2 with Lewis, the Laguna Beach, Calif., driver in the No. 98 BHA Hyundai i30 N TCR, capturing the Round 1 40-minute sprint race. Third for the second consecutive TCR race was veteran Ryan Eversley of Atlanta, Ga., in the all-new No. 43 RealTime Racing Honda Civic Type-R TCR machine.
Sebastian Vettel (No. 5 Scuderia Ferrari) robbed Lewis Hamilton (No. 44 Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport) of victory in the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the 2018 season. It was Vettel's 48th win in F1. After a software malfunction crippled Hamilton, the reigning champion lost out to Vettel during a virtual safety car period. Hamilton started from the pole and had the race well in hand up to that point, he and his Mercedes in top form; he ended up second. Kimi Räikkönen (No. 7 Scuderia Ferrari) finished third.
(Pirelli World Challenge)Toni Vilander/Miguel Molina (No. 61 R. Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3) swept the first two rounds of the Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX series at the Circuit of the Americas in the Grand Prix of Texas in Austin, Texas, last weekend. Vilander, a past Le Mans champion from Finland, and Molina, a factory Ferrari driver from Spain, drove to another impressive win Sunday (after their win on Saturday) in the 60-minute, two-driver feature by defeating Mike Skeen/Scott Heckert (No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3) by 2.521-seconds in the 28-lap Round 2 contest in the Pro-Pro category. The Pirelli World Challenge GT SprintX Rounds 3 and 4 are on the SprintX schedule at VIRginia International Raceway in Danville, Va., on April 27-29. The next PWC GT Sprint race will be a GT/GTS event in the streets of Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 44th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13-15.
(Pirelli World Challenge)Jade Buford and Scott Maxwell (No. 55 PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4) won Saturday’s GTS SprintX Round 1 60-minute feature in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas at Circuit of the Americas. Buford/Maxwell finished 1.277 seconds ahead of 18-year-old Harry Gottsacker (No. 69 Racers Edge Motorsports SIN R1 GT4) and averaged 73.25 mph on the 3.427-mile circuit southeast of downtown Austin. Gottsacker, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, drove solo with a weight penalty in his race car to finish second at his home track. Third overall went to the No. 11 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R driven by pro driver Michael Cooper, the 2017 GT SprintX Pro-Pro champion, and veteran Am competitor Tony Gaples.
(Pirelli World Challenge)James Sofronas teamed with Alex Welch (No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS) to win Sunday’s Round 2 GTS SprintX 60-minute feature in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas at the Circuit of the Americas. Stevan McAleer/Justin Raphael (No. 17 Raphael & Associates/Classic BMW BMW M4 GT4) finished second, followed by Tan/Wittmer (No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4) in third.
(Pirelli World Challenge)Mark Wilkins (No. 99 BHA Hyundai i30 N TCR) of Mulmur, Ont., Canada, led a 1-2 Hyundai sweep with his Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian teammate Michael Lewis in Round 2 of the opening TCR Class events in the Pirelli World Challenge Grand Prix of Texas. Wilkins, pole winner in both TCR contests at COTA this weekend, protected his position entering turn one at the 3.427-mile, 20-turn race track southeast of Austin. The 34-year-old sports car veteran kept a strong pace throughout the 14-lap race and held off Lewis, the Saturday TCR winner, by 0.512 seconds at the checkered flag. The impressive performance by the Hyundai i30 N TCR hatchbacks saw Wilkins sweep practice, qualifying and Round 2 with Lewis, the Laguna Beach, Calif., driver in the No. 98 BHA Hyundai i30 N TCR, capturing the Round 1 40-minute sprint race. Third for the second consecutive TCR race was veteran Ryan Eversley of Atlanta, Ga., in the all-new No. 43 RealTime Racing Honda Civic Type-R TCR machine.
(Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
Clint Bowyer (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Haas Automation Ford) won Monday’s snow-delayed STP 500, ending a winless streak in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series that had reached 190 races, dating to the fall race at Charlotte in 2012. It was Boyer's ninth career victory and his first at the .526-mile short track. Stewart-Haas has won four of the first six races of 2018. Bowyer finished 1.146 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing M&Ms Toyota) in a race that was delayed from Sunday to Monday due to a severe snowstorm that hit southern Virginia on Saturday afternoon. Kyle Busch took over the series lead from Martin Truex Jr. (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing 5-Hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota) who started from the pole and came home fourth. Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Menards/Libman Ford) finished third.