The 2011-2012 Skip Barber presents the Mazda Winter Series Formula Skip Barber and MAZDASPEED Challenge season is halfway over, following the conclusion of Rounds 5 and 6 last week at Homestead Miami Speedway. MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Driver Danilo Estrela took home the most wins of the weekend, winning both races for Group 3. Master Greg Strelzoff and Rookie Nicholas Latifi each took home their first Skip Barber Racing School wins on the 2.21-mile road course. In the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge, Grand Masters Steve Randall, Maurizio Scala and Master Nelson Canache battled all weekend long, with Randall and Scala each earning a race win. Estrela jumps to the championship points lead in the Formula Series and Nelson Canache and Steve Randall are tied for first in the MAZDASPEED Challenge. The Series next heads to Sebring International Raceway Feb. 17-19, 2012.
Group 1 Race 1 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
Rookie Nick Neri led the field to the green flag for the first race of the weekend, but Master Craig Duerson quickly jumped to the front of the pack, leading the first two laps of the event. Skip Barber National alumnus Franco Aragones held onto second position for several laps before taking the lead in lap give. 2011 Skip Barber Racing School Summer Series Champion Tristan Nunez returned for some extra seat time and after starting third, worked his way up to the front to lead two laps, and earned a solid third-place finish. Throughout the racer, Duerson and Nunez worked together to gain advantage on track, methodically holding positions and working the draft. Latifi did an excellent job holding off Duerson, leading the final two laps of the event and taking home the win with Duerson in second.
Group 1 Race 2 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
After winning the previous day's race, Nicholas Latifi lead the field to the green flag for the second race of Group 1. Franco Aragones, starting in second, jumped to the front in the first lap, only to have Latifi take back the top position a lap later. Newcomer Leonardo Jafet came up from fifth position to grab the lead in lap three. In lap four, Matt McMurry and Jacob Wilson suffered contact, forcing McMurry to retire with car damage. In lap six, Leonardo Jaftet and Nick Neri also had contact. By lap nine, Jake Eidson had climbed to the lead and held his position with a five-car lead. Newcomer Mike Taylor worked his way up from sixth to challenge for the lead. Ultimately, Master Greg Strelzoff took the lead, followed by Jake Eidson and Grand Master Dr. Mike Edwards.
Group 1 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 1 Race 1 Group 1 Race 2
1. (5) Nicholas Latifi 1. (4) Greg Strelzoff - M
2. (4) Craig Duerson - M 2. (8) Jake Eidson
3. (3) Tristan Nunez 3. (14) Michael Edwards - GM
4. (2) Franco Aragones 4. (2) Franco Aragones
5. (1) Nick Neri 5. (9) Bobby Eberle Jr. - M
6. (11) Greg Strelzoff - GM 6. (7) Jack Mitchell Jr.
7. (6) Leonardo Jafet 7. (6) Mike Taylor
8. (10) Matt Franc - M 8. (11) Greg Holloway
9. (7) Mike Taylor 9. (1) Nicholas Latifi
10. (8) Jack Mitchell Jr. 10. (12) Gus Doppes - GM
11. (9) Jake Eidson 11. (5) Leonardo Jafet
12. (12) Bobby Eberle Jr. - M 12. (15) Danilo Estrela
13. (15) Jacob Wilson 13. (3) Nick Neri
14. (17) Greg Holloway 14. (13) Matt McMurry
15. (13) Gus Doppes - GM 15. (10) Jacob Wilson
16.(16) Matt McMurry
17. (14) Michael Edwards - GM
Top Master: Craig Duerson
Pole Position: Nick Neri
Fastest Lap: Greg Strelzoff (1:33.595 /85.0055 mph)
Most Improved: Greg Strelzoff, 5 positions
Laps Led: Craig Duerson 1-2; Tristan Nunez 3; Duerson 4; Franco Aragones 5; Duerson 6-10, Nicholas Latifi 11; Duerson 12; Nunez 13; Latifi 14-15
Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Nicholas Latifi
Fastest Lap: Danilo Estrela (1:33.563 / 85.034 mph)
Most Improved: Dr. Mike Edwards, 11 positions
Laps Led: Franco Aragones 1; Nicholas Latifi 2; Nick Neri 3-4; Latifi 5; Neri 6-7; Jake Eidson 8-10; Greg Strelzoff 11; Eidson 12; Strelzoff 13-15
Group 2 Race 1 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, MAZDASPEED Challenge
Grand Master Steve Randall lead the MAZDASPEED Challenge to the green flag for both races of the weekend. In Race 1, he led the first few laps, methodically extending his lead over the rest of the field. Nelson Canache, started second and grabbed the lead in lap three, with S. Randall never far behind. Brad Randall joined the battle and stayed close for the majority of the race. It was not too long before Mauricizo Scala joined the fight, passing B. Randall in lap seven for third position. As the field came to a checker, the top four were running in a tight, four-car train. In the final turns, S. Randall got a strong run and took home the win, followed by Nelson Canache and Maurizio Scala.
Group 2 Race 2 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, MAZDASPEED Challenge
As the green flag waved for Race 2, Steve Randall, Nelson Canache and Maurizio Scala went single file through the first turns, slowly breaking away from the rest of the pack. S. Randall and Nelson Canache raced nose to tail for the entirety of the race, trading the top position back and forth it seemed with every lap. Meanwhile, Bryan Hixon and Miquel Potolicchio were battling for fifth as Hixon tried to hold the position. Canache led as the white flag flew, but Grand Master Maurizio Scala took home win, followed by Brad Randall and Grand Master Steve Randall.
Group 2 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, MAZDASPEED Challenge
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 2 Race 1 Group 2 Race 2
1. (1) Steve Randall - GM 1. (3) Maurizio Scala - GM
2. (2) Nelson Canache - M 2. (4) Brad Randall
3. (5) Maurizio Scala - GM 3. (1) Steve Randall - GM
4. (3) Brad Randall 4. (7) Rod Randall - GM
5. (7) Miquel Potolicchio - GM 5. (8) Steven Molnar - GM
6. (8) Rod Randall - GM 6. (2) Nelson Canache - M
7. (9) Steven Molnar - GM 7. (9) Bryan Hixon
8. (6) Bryan Hixon 8. (6) Miquel Potolicchio - GM
9. (10) Diane Mould - GM 9. (10) Diane Mould - GM
10. (11) James Tracey - M 10. (11) James Tracey - M
11. (4) Javier Ripoll 11. (5) Javier Ripoll
Top Master: Steve Randall
Pole Position: Steve Randall
Fastest Lap: Maurizio Scala (1:40.871 / 78.873 mph)
Most Improved: Maurizio Scala, Miquel Potolicchio, Steven Molnar, 2 positions each
Laps Led: Steve Randall 1-4; Nelson Canache 5-7; Randall 8; Canache 9-11; Randall 12; Canache 13-14; Randall 15
Top Master: Maurizio Scala
Pole Position: Steve Randall
Fastest Lap: Miquel Potolicchio (1:40.898 / 78.852 mph)
Most Improved: Rod Randall and Steven Molnar, 3 positions each
Laps Led: Steve Randall 1-5; Nelson Canache 6-7; Randall 8; Canache 9; Randall 10; Canache 11-14; Ranall 15
Group 3 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
Starting Position in Parenthesis
Group 3 Race 1 Group 3 Race 2
1. (1) Danilo Estrela 1. (1) Danilo Estrela
2. (4) Jake Eidson 2. (15) Jack Mitchell Jr
3. (2) Leonardo Jafet 3. (3) Leonardo Jafet
4. (6) Greg Strelzoff - M 4. (2) Jake Eidson
5. (5) Nick Neri 5. (4) Greg Strelzoff - M
6. (8) David Libby 6. (6) David Libby
7. (10) Doug Tuttle - GM 7. (18) Dr. Mike Edwards - GM
8. (12) Jay Fuchs - GM 8. (14) Gus Doppes - GM
9. (16) Jose Montiel 9. (10) Greg Holloway
10. (18) Greg Holloway 10. (11) William Shields - GM
11. (19) William Shields - GM 11. (13) Bobby Eberle - M
12. (17) Chuck Whitlock - GM 12. (9) Jose Montiel
13. (11) Bobby Eberle - M 13. (8) Jay Fuchs - GM
14. (9) Gus Doppes 14. (7) Doug Tuttle - GM
15. (3) Jack Mitchell Jr 15. (16) Juan Herrera
16.(15) Juan Herrera 16. (12) Chuck Whitlock - GM
17. (14) George Morales - GM 17. (17) George Morales - GM
18. (13) Scott Bassinder - M 18. (0) Bryan Hixon
19. (7) Dr. Mike Edwards - GM 19. (5) Nick Neri
Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Nick Neri
Fastest Lap: Greg Strelzoff (1:33.595 /85.0055 mph)
Most Improved: Greg Strelzoff, 5 positions
Laps Led: Danilo Estrela 1-2; Jack Mitchell Jr 3; Estrela 4-6; Mitchell 7; Estrela 8; Mitchell 9; Estrela 10-15
Top Master: Greg Strelzoff
Pole Position: Danilo Estrela
Fastest Lap: Jack Mitchell Jr (1:33.693 / 84.916 mph)
Most Improved: Jack Mitchell Jr., 13 positions
Laps Led: Danilo Estrela 1-15
Group 3 Race 1 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Driver Danilo Estrela started the race from pole position, and led the first two laps until Jack Mitchell Jr., came up from third to challenge for the lead. Mitchell and Estrela battled for the top position for the entirety of the race, until Mitchell and Nick Neri had contact, forcing Mitchell and Neri to do a drive through in pit lane for a safety check. In the same lap, Bobby Eberle and Chuck Whitlock had contact, forcing both to pit as well. Ultimately, Estrela finished in first, Jake Eidson second and Leonardo Jafet in third.
Group 3 Race 2 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series, Formula Skip Barber
Danilo Estrela had a strong start, gaining three car lengths by the second turn. In lap three, Nick Neri's vehicle lost the rear wing and he was forced to retire early. Jake Eidson started second and stayed in the front, fighting for the lead. Jack Mitchell Jr. methodically worked his way up from 15th to the front group by lap six. At the halfway point, Estrela held a five second lead. Starting third, Leonardo Jafet stayed near the front, maintaining position while putting pressure on the leaders. In the end, Estrela led every lap and finished first, earning his second race win of the season. Jack Mitchell Jr. finished second and Leonardo Jafet third.
2011-2012 Top 10 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series
Formula Skip Barber
Championship Point Standings (two worst finishes dropped)
1. 137 pts Danilo Estrela
2. 125 Nick Neri - R
3. 124 Jake Eidson
4. 123 Jack Mitchell Jr.
5. 113 Greg Strelzoff - M
6. 110 Dr. Mike Edwards - GM
7. 105 Leonardo Jafet - R
8. 101 Jose Montiel
9. 97 David Libby– GM
10. 92 Gus Doppes - GM
2011-2012 Top 10 Skip Barber Presents the Mazda Winter Series
MAZDASPEED Challenge
Championship Point Standings (two worst finishes dropped)
1. 127 Nelson Canache - R
2. 127 Steve Randall - GM
3. 121 Maurizio Scala - GM
4. 118 Bryan Hixon
5. 107 Brad Randall
6. 88 Maria Canizales - R
7. 62 Doug Tuttle - GM
8. 60 Dr. Mike Edwards - GM
9. 58 Kieron O'Rourke - GM
10. 56 Greg Strelzoff - M
2011-2012 Skip Barber presents the
Mazda Winter Series / MAZDASPEED Challenge Winter Remaining Schedule
Rounds 7 & 8, February 17-19: Sebring International Raceway, FL
Rounds 9 & 10, March 24-25: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, CA
Rounds 11 & 12, April 13-14: Sebring International Raceway, FL