Record win for Teixeira at the historic GP3R
On Wednesday August 6, 2014 Teixeira and his Lombardi Honda Racing Team arrived in Trois-Rivières, Quebec for the historic Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres (GP3R).
Early on the weather wasn’t in cooperation, as it rained during the practice and qualifying sessions. Teixeira had never driven his Lombardi Honda Fit on the new street circuit or in wet conditions, leaving Teixeira and his team to make adjustments to the on the go.
During qualifying the two Honda Fits’ appeared to struggle for raw speed, as Teixeira qualified fifth for the race, followed by Ro-No Honda Fit sixth.
Post qualifying was very stressful, as Teixeira and his Lombardi Honda Racing Team tried to squeeze out every last bit of performance in the Honda Fit. The team quickly made adjustments, as well as a quick patch to their nagging alignment issues. Just minutes before the horn was aired the team decided this was it. Just in time to send Teixeira out with a car that pointed straight.
At 8:45 p.m. the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) round 11 would be underway, and by 9:15 p.m. Teixeira and his team would become the headline for the GP3R’s highly anticipated night race.
Although the Mazda 2s dominated the qualifying session taking positions 1 through 3, Teixeira was confident in the adjustments made and ready to prove his racing ability.
Making his presence felt, Teixeira split the Mazda of Manuel Boyer and the Mini Cooper of Carlos Tesler-Mabe to jump into third position. Teixeira wasn’t finished, as he made a move for second place while entering turn three at the famous Point Duplessis Bridge. With only one driver in front of him, Teixeira was ready to take the lead, passing the race leader in just under three laps of green flag racing.
The Mazdas had the speed, but just couldn’t get Teixeira to budge. They tried everything possible to take his first ever Canadian Touring Car win from him. Multiple attempts from each of the three Mazda drivers came fast but as traffic caught up, Teixeira only saw his competitors in his rearview mirror.
“What a turn around one year can make. Just last year, in 2013, we were turned away from the event, due to a licensing and an age issue that came up on race day," Teixeira explained.
"I remember watching the race from the sideline and thinking there is nothing that will stop us from winning this event one day. Then, our very next shot at it, we won in the most unbelievable way. There are so many people that are responsible for our first win; from every Lombardi member to anyone with a Honda logo in Canadian Touring Car.”
With this victory Teixeira becomes the youngest ever race winner at 19 years 10 months and 16 days of age.
With only two races remaining on the season’s calendar, Teixeira sits in second place of the B-Spec class standings. The final races take place at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario August 30 and 31.
