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FILGUEIRAS AND MCALEER EARN SRO GT WORLD CHALLENGE PODIUM, HARD CHARGER HONORS AT ROAD AMERICA


Elkhart Lake, WI- After a two month break in the schedule, the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS series was back in action at Road America for rounds 9 & 10 of racing on the 2023 calendar. Two races, Saturday, Aug. 19, and Sunday, Aug. 20 knocked off the dust from summer break with 143 cars joining the event weekend across SRO America’s various championships. 


The 4.048-mile, 14-turn course carves around the Wisconsin countryside and is surrounded by campsites within the sprawling facility, including hiking and bike trails, car corrals and a go-kart track along the back straight. Fans had plenty to see and do with 10 races taking place over the course of three days. 


For Florida based RS1 and their drivers Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer the Midwest contest meant more opportunity to improve their status in the Pro category of the series after a trying weekend at VIR in the recent rounds.


Manny Franco in the No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 set the pace for the PRO Class for Driver One Qualifying. Franco took the pole with a 2:03.486 lap time; the time placed him at the top of the charts overall and in the class. Eric Filgueiras in the Community Beer Works RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R set a time that would start behind the Ferrari second in Pro. He is followed by Chandler Hull in the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3, who earned third, having set a lap time of 2:03.990.


In Race 1 Franco led the opening stanza of the race ahead of the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R of Eric Filgueiras through two full course cautions, and into the pit stop sequence on Lap 16. Co-driver Balzan emerged with a six-second lead over Stevan McAleer, who was passed by a hard-charging Bill Auberlen for second, who initially clawed some ground back on the Italian.


Acura's Mario Farnbacher got around both Jan Heylen and McAleer for the final podium position in the Pro class in a car that was started by Ashton Harrison. McAleer faded to sixth at the end, ahead of Heylen and new co-driver Madison Snow in the No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche.


In Race 2 Franco and Balzan in the No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 captured a second win for the team and a second win in North America for the Ferrari 296 GT3. Conquest Racing would have 2.5 seconds added to the finishing time for a pitlane infraction but Franco’s lead of four seconds over Madison Snow put him firmly in the window of a win. Snow would also serve a penalty for an incident responsibility; 45 seconds was added to his finish.


After contact with another competitor early in the race, McAleer would drop back to 16th before fighting back to 12th overall. The midpoint of the race gave opportunity for a full service pit stop. Exiting the Pits Eric Filgueiras would take the No. 28 Porsche 911 GT3 R to second place with the help of a late caution to reset the field.


The RS1 Duo would also claim the Super Fuel Harder Charger Award for round 10 of the 13 round Championship. The combined finish puts RS1 19 points in the championship lead ahead of the Racer's Edge Acura. Third place was well fought for by Trenton Estep and Seth Lucas. The duo drove the No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R with damage to the podium finish.


The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS series heads to Sebring International Raceway for the penultimate round. The weekend takes place Sept. 22-24, and tickets are now available.


Sources: RACER, Sportscar365, SRO

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