Photo: Mason Filippi

Mason Filippi takes the first pole position of the year at COTA

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Team TFB driver Mason Filippi scored the first pole position of the 2019 TC America series season at the Circuit of the Americas, driving his Hyundai Veloster N TCR.

Filippi set a best lap time of 2:34.298, a full 1.342 seconds ahead of his closest rival in the form of FCP Euro’s Nate Vincent, driving a Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. Vincent’s team-mate Michael Hurczyn claimed third, 2.719 seconds off the pace.

James Walker was next with his Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR of Risi Competizione, with Nelson Chan the fastest Audi driver in his RS3 LMS of Alphasonic Motorsport.

Bryan Putt was sixth, driving an Audi RS 3 LMS of Rowe Racing, over five seconds off the pace, with Harry Cheung in seventh, driving the sole Honda Civic Type R TCR of the field.

Eddie Killeen finished eighth fastest, 8.753 seconds behind the pole sitter, for TWOth Autosport, followed by Christian Cole, also at the wheel of an Audi, this time from McCann Racing. His team-mate Michael McCann Jr. completed the top ten, over nine seconds off the pace.

The first race of the season will follow this evening at 14:35 CST (21:35 CET).