Learning curve for TRG at PWC opener
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
TRG-Aston Martin Racing is bringing home three awards of achievement after the Pirelli World Challenge season opener at the Circuit of the Americas last weekend, rounding out a week of racing and wine dinners in the Lone Star state. All of the drivers brought members of their family to cheer them on while they raced at the Nissan Grand Prix of Texas. The team is celebrating their success and is already looking forward to the PWC Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida this weekend.
The week began in true TRG fashion, with a private wine dinner at a home overlooking the Austin skyline. Guests were treated to the full spectrum of Adobe Road Wines, including the highly rated new Red Apex and Cabernet Sauvignon Bavarian Lion Vineyard selections. The team was so pleased to bring together both wine and racing enthusiasts in advance of their big opening weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.
Under an innovative model of racing in the GTS class, drivers Derek DeBoer and Jason Alexandridis competed in one of each of the two rounds in Austin, allowing both of them to experience the highly competitive lineup of PWC racing in the No. 09 BRM/Rebounderz/Racing for Cancer Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4. In Saturday’s Round 1 race, DeBoer won both the Optima Batteries Best Start award for gaining an impressive seven positions on the opening lap, followed by the VP Racing Fuels Hard Charger award for improving eight positions during the race. Both Max Riddle and DeBoer finished in the top ten. In Sunday’s Round 2 GTS race, Riddle bolted out of the gate for an impressive start in his No. 07 TRG-AMR Vantage GT4. With the crowd cheering him on, his skillful maneuvers took him from ninth to third place in the opening corners of the race, earning the team another Optima Batteries Best Standing Start award. Jason Alexandridis made notable moves as he weaved his way up through the pack, making the TRG-AMR squad a formidable pair.
In the highly competitive GT Class, Duncan Ende drove the TRG-AMR/Merchant Services LTD/Linospresso USA Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on Saturday and Sunday. As expected, Ende drove the powerful V12 with skill and calm determination through an aggressive grid of cars. After his car fell victim to unavoidable contact in Round 1 and was forced to retire to undergo repairs, Duncan drove a fantastic race on Sunday’s Round 2, advancing the Aston Martin multiple positions and finishing with key points heading into St. Petersburg. Ende is determined to come away from the Florida rounds with an even better result, and is pleased to return to racing with TRG-AMR after a long off season.
Next up for TRG-AMR is the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, where Alexandridis, DeBoer, Ende, and TRG-AMR driver Sean Gibbons will be competing in both the GT and GTS classes.
Source material & photo credits - TRG-AMR
