Tyler Maxson secures the TC America title

Tyler Maxson and his Copeland Motorsports Hyundai Veloster N resumed their winning run in TC America at the Circuit of the Americas and so secured the title in the TCR class.
After struggling in the two latest races at Road America, Maxson took his tenth victory of the season in today’s Race 1, sprinting from the pole position and leading for the whole 40 minutes.
Behind him, at the start Roy Block pipped Taylor Hagler who was second on the grid and propose himself as Maxson’s first pursuer. While the Hyundai driver was able to build a two-second leading margin in the first two laps, Block didn’t give up, but from lap 7 he found himself chased by Scott Smithson who had managed to pass Victor González for P4 and then Hagler for P3. 
In lap 10, Smithson got close enough to try an overtaking manoeuvre, but Block rejected his attack; as they took a lap to some of the slower TCA cars, Hagler benefited from the situation and close in on them. The battle for P2 heated up in the final ten minutes, with Block defending himself from Smithson and Hagler; surprisingly the trio began to close the gap to Maxson, but the latter was able to keep them at safe distance and took the chequered flag three seconds ahead of Smithson who had passed Block in the final lap, while Hagler and González followed in fourth and fifth respectively.
Maxson’s leading margin in the standings has grown to 98 points over González, with 100 still on offer, meaning that Copeland Motorsport’s teenager may clinch the title tomorrow in Race 2 that is scheduled for 12:05 local time (19:05 CEST); live streaming at www.tcr-series.com. 

Race 1
1. Tyler Maxson (Copeland Motorsports, Hyundai Veloster N), 17 laps
2. Scott Smithson (DXDT Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 3.676
3. Roy Block (KMW Motorsports, Alfa Romeo Giulietta), 5.347
4. Taylor Hagler (LA Honda World Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 6.381 
5. Victor González (VGMC Racing, Honda Civic Type R), 7.394

Championship standings
1. Tyler Maxson 262 pts; 2. Victor González 160; 3. Scott Smithson 150 

Picture: SRO Motorsports