COOPER TIRES GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO RACE ONE REPORT

COOPER TIRES GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO RACE ONE REPORT

        


 

SHELBY BLACKSTOCK
NO. 51 STARSTRUCK MAZDA

 

  • American racer qualified the Starstruck Mazda to roll off the grid for today’s Race One in the seventh position
  • A bizarre series of events and 34 laps later, the 25-year-old captured a top-five finish in fifth

“A real solid day by the Andretti Autosport crew. We found some things going into qualifying which helped us a ton. The car is substantially better than it has been through the year. First of all, I hope RC Enerson is okay – that was a massive hit. During the race, the Starstruck Mazda kept improving; we still have to work on some weird situations it’s in, but I’m happy with a P5. It’s better than we have been, so huge thanks to everyone at Andretti, and hopefully tomorrowwill be even better.”

 

WEIRON TAN
NO. 22 WEIRON TAN
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT MAZDA

 

  • Pro Mazda Championship rookie clinched a starting position in Row Two for the first of two races this weekend in Toronto
  • A victim of wrong place, wrong time, the Malaysian was collected in a Lap 1 incident and did not complete the race

“Race One was a disaster. I had a really good start – I was third going into Turn 3, and everything was fine… I don’t really know what happened. I was turning in and a car just came flying by and collected me and we both went into the wall, and three other cars followed. I don’t know what happened behind but that was the end of our race. I feel bad for the Andretti Autosport guys because they worked really hard to get the car back together for the race (following an incident at the end of qualifying this morning). As a team, it’s quite disappointing that both cars are out. Hopefully we can get the cars ready in time for tomorrow’s race. I want to thank the guys for working so hard, but at the same time say sorry to them as well.”


 

DALTON KELLETT
NO. 28 K-LINE INSULATORS USA, INC.
ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT MAZDA

 

  • Stouffville, Ontario native qualified his Mazda-powered machine in the 10th position for this afternoon’s Race One 
  • Canadian racer was also a victim of circumstance becoming collected in the Lap 1, Turn 3 incident and was later checked and cleared by medical staff to resume racing activities

“After this race I thought it was really hard to start in terms of what I wanted to say. First of all, I’m just grateful that everyone involved in the incident in Turn 3 got out okay. I’m absolutely heartbroken for the Andretti Autosport team seeing that my car is pretty much totally destroyed. The tub is broken, both the suspension bonnets are done. It will be a pretty big feat to get things turned around to get the K-Line Insulators Mazda back on track for tomorrow’s Race Two; if there’s any team in this paddock that can get it done, it’s the Andretti Autosport Pro Mazda crew. It’s also really unfortunate for (teammate) Ron (Tan) since he was taken out in the same corner, so just all around a very frustrating day. Hopefully there’s a serious amount of review that happens because that level of driving, and the incidences caused by it, is simply unacceptable in this level of motorsport.”