Sonoma, CA, When you win eleven out of fourteen races in a support series, you might be good enough to compete at the next level. That’s just what Eric Filgueiras and RS1 proved in the opening round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America season.
After dominating the GT4 America championship last season, sponsor Community Beer Works, Filgueiras, RS1, and co-driver Stevan McAleer decided to embark on a GTWCA campaign. The result of the team and Filgueiras’ first qualifying session with its new car? Pole. The result of Filgueiras’ first stint in a GT3 car? A nearly 10s lead. The result of the team’s first race? A convincing win.

“Incredible, incredible,” Filgueiras explained. “For this type of debut three days ago, I don’t think we would have seen ourselves in this position. The team, myself, Stevan, we’re so green with this car. Porsche puts such a great package together but we’re still getting there, we’re still developing it, and we’ve had such little time with it.
“The guys have worked so hard, Porsche has given us really great support, feedback, and guidance with the car as well and then it was just managing the race,” Filgueiras added.

McAleer inherited a 9s advantage and despite the field chewing at away that gap to just 1.538s, he was not concerned. With such a comfortable lead, McAleer turned the traction control up to help the tire wear and simply guided the car home.

“I had I think an 8.5s or 9s lead and, in all honesty, I was quite happy to manage the tires,” the Scotsman said. “I turned the traction control up and tried to look after the car. They keep reading me the gap, ‘half-second, two-tenths, four-tenths, six-tenths.’ I know this game though; I’ve been at it a long time. Yes, there were three cars catching me, but it would’ve taken something special to get around me.”
After a successful debut, the duo would have a taller task in race two, attempting to fight forward from a P12 starting position. The race 1 overall and Pro class winner RS1 ultimately finished fourth in Pro with Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer, despite a late-race spin for Filgueiras while battling for the final podium position.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS takes on NOLA Motorsport Park next. The racing continues from Friday, April 28, through Sunday, April 30.
Sources- RACER, GT World Challenge America, Sportscar 365
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