Yahoo Autos Skip Barber Racing guides seven cars to wins, podiums and more
Skip Barber Racing successfully managed seven cars across three different series at Circuit of the Americas this weekend. Among the many accolades were a win and podium in TC America, a Hard Charger and top-ten finish in Toyota GR Cup North America, and a successful debut in GT4 America for Skip Barber Racing’s Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
Marc Sharinn & Tyler Sharinn – No. 16 Skip Barber Racing School Aston Martin Vantage GT4
The No. 16 Skip Barber Racing School Aston Martin Vantage GT4 adorned the GT4 America colors for the series’ three-hour endurance race at Circuit of the Americas.
After training multiple days with instructors from the Skip Barber Racing School, the father-son duo of Marc and Tyler Sharinn made their debut with Skip Barber Racing, the school’s professional racing team.
The pair finished seventh in class and gained 11 spots over the course of the three-hour race, a stellar effort from Marc, Tyler, and the rest of the Skip Barber Racing crew.
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “It was great to have Marc and Tyler with us this weekend. As a family-owned and operated business ourselves, it’s always special when we can have a father-son duo in the car together. The two did a great job acclimating themselves into the series and we enjoyed every minute of the weekend.”
Celso Neto – No. 22 Skip Barber Racing School Acura Integra Type S
It wouldn’t be a TC America weekend if there wasn’t a Celso Neto podium included.
A strong lap in Race 1 put Neto on the inside of the second row for Race 2, placing him in prime position to take the lead of the race as the field climbed the 133-foot rise into Turn One. After moving up to second, Neto took the lead of the race by the close of the opening lap.
The Brazilian demonstrated impressive defensive abilities as he held off a pair of competitors for the first twenty minutes of the race before claiming his third podium of the season.
To cap his weekend off, Celso was chosen as a finalist for the 2024-25 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship. The previous winner, Ken Fukuda, is the Skip Barber Racing School’s Director of Racing Schools and Race Series.
Celso Neto: “We had a great Skip Barber Racing Acura this weekend. We had great pace, and led the most laps enroute to a third-place finish. It was a great showing of evolution on the Acura, we were the most competitive we’ve been all year and the team showed great resilience.”
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “Celso and the team from Skip Barber Racing are continuing to grow our understanding of this new Acura Integra Type S and I believe the results are showing that growth. The expertise from the crew combined with Celso’s talent is a recipe for success and I know a win is not far away.”
Cooper Broll – No. 19 PiedParker Acura Integra Type S
After an impressive outing in Sebring, Broll had set the bar even higher for himself heading into Circuit of the Americas and he continued to raise that bar this weekend. Broll passed the most cars of any driver in Race 2 to secure his second top-five finish of the season, earning the Hard Charger Award to go with it.
Cooper Broll: “I started eighth and finished fifth, and I’m pumped to have won the Hard Charger Award for passing the most cars in my class! The car felt pretty good, and I had a blast out there. Big thanks to the amazing Skip Barber Racing team for their support. I’m looking forward to VIRginia International Raceway and the team’s home race.”
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “There is not much to say about Cooper that hasn’t already been said. Week-in and week-out he impresses the instructors and crew with his dedication to improving his race craft and we couldn’t be happier to see him grow.”
Alex Garcia – No. 14 Orlando Family Medical Toyota GR86 & No. 14 Orlando Family Medical Honda Civic Si FE1
Alex Garcia continues to make double duty look easy with another win TC America coupled with his third Hard Charger Award of the season in Toyota GR Cup North America. To add to the accolades, Garcia snagged a second-place finish in Race 1 of the TC America weekend and a top-ten finish in GR Cup on Saturday.
The fifteen positions Garcia gained in Race 1 were seven more than the next-best driver, leaving the Hard Charger Award in no doubt.
Alex Garcia: “It was a tough start to the weekend in GR Cup after qualifying twenty-fifth due to a track limits violation, but we rebounded to finish tenth by the end of the race securing another solid finish and Hard Charger Award. On Sunday, we made some adjustments and felt strong out there and got the win in TC America powered by the Skip Barber Racing School. I’m very excited with how this weekend went and the progress Skip Barber Racing and I are making together.”
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “Some drivers might let a poor qualifying get into their heads but not Alex. To put that aside, strap back in, get to work, and make 15 passes in a spec-series is something he should be incredibly proud of, I know the whole Skip Barber Racing outfit is proud of him. Alex is driving on another level right now and the next round at VIR cannot come soon enough.”
James Klimas – No. 61 Middletown Toyota GR86
It was another weekend of progress and development for series rookie James Klimas. The Connecticut-based driver has continued to make strides in his race craft with the support of the instructors from the Skip Barber Racing School.
James gained five spots in Race 1, equaling his season-high for passes made in a race. His pace improved as the weekend went on, evidenced by his personal best lap time in Sunday’s qualifying session prior to Race 2.
James Klimas: “We had a good first race on Saturday going back and forth with another driver and came out on top of that fight and placed twenty-fourth. I ran a personal best lap in Q2 on Sunday and was feeling really good by the time the weekend ended. Thank you to the instructors and crew at Skip Barber Racing, I can’t wait to be back out there with them.”
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “Everyone with Skip Barber Racing has rallied behind James this season. He’s kept the car clean, which in a series like GR Cup is no easy task and focused on his personal development as a racer. We’ve loved everything we’ve seen from him so far and I firmly believe he will be a regular top-twenty finisher by the end of the summer.”
Will Lambros – No. 77 Skip Barber Racing School Toyota GR86
Will Lambros left Circuit of the Americas with a pair of sixteenth place finishes to his name having spent both 45-minute races mired in the often-chaotic mid-field. Like his teammate Klimas, however, Lambros brought the No. 77 Skip Barber Racing School Toyota GR86 back home without a scratch.
Will Lambros: “It was another great weekend with Skip Barber Racing. I cannot thank the team enough for their efforts in preparing the car and for their work during the weekend. It was also great to be back at Circuit of the Americas, where we won last year in TC America powered by the Skip Barber Racing School. A solid weekend and certainly one we can use to build momentum off of.”
Joe Monitto, Skip Barber Racing Team Manager: “It’s always a pleasure to have Will in the car. He has been a cornerstone of Skip Barber Racing and brings an infectious and positive attitude to the track which radiates through the team.”
