Victory certainly didn't come easily for Dutchman Charles Zwolsman (#11 Condor Motorsports) Sunday in Round 2 of the Toyota Atlantic Championship Presented by Yokohama, but the 25-year-old racer fought off numerous challenges, led all 32 laps (67.328 miles) and captured the checkered flag for his first series victory in only his second Atlantic start.
The rookie Zwolsman led the 13-car field to a clean green-flag start at the challenging 2.104-mile Fundidora Park road circuit and he faced pressure from Tonis Kasemets (#6 Flexovit Abrasives/MK Ind./TMI/Redline Oil), who started second, from the outset. Kasemets, the only Atlantic non-rookie competing in Monterrey this weekend, tried several times to overtake the speedy Zwolsman only to be turned away. Even late in the race, when both Zwolsman and Kasemets had to fight through lapped traffic, the determined Dutch racer was able to find the speed to shut the door. He held on for a 1.232-second win over Kasemets, earning his maiden series victory in the Tecate/Telmex Grand Prix of Monterrey Presented by Roshfrans Atlantic event (tape-delayed broadcast on SPEED Channel - Saturday, May 28 at 2 p.m. ET).
Kasemets, competing for Dan Cobb Racing/Team Tonis, earned his top series finish and first podium result in his eighth career start in the 90-degree heat in Monterrey. The Estonian-born racer, who currently resides in Mundelein, Illinois, led Friday's qualifying session and made the most of his starting position and a fast race car.
While Zwolsman's victory was certainly impressive, perhaps the most dramatic story of the race belonged to local Mexican racer David Martinez (#7 Roshfrans/Todito Card/Roca Acero/Madisa/Koviva/Aviacsa). After joining the US RaceTronics team just a couple of weeks ago, the 23-year-old Monterrey native saw his car roll of the truck in good shape as he immediately proved to be one of the quickest entries in the field. Martinez finished second in provisional qualifying on Friday, but he began to suffer the effects of a stomach virus and dehydration on Saturday. He still managed to qualify fifth and he had a tremendous race, moving up to fourth by the second lap and eventually finishing third for his first Atlantic podium finish. The talented, young driver had to be transported to the Champ Car Medical Center right after the race to get treatment for his illness, but the result certainly helped his spirits as he recovered Sunday evening.
Canadian rookie Antoine Bessette (#3 Unik Auto Design) recorded a fourth-place finish for Polestar Racing Group, earning his second top-five result of the season. His teammate, Katherine Legge (#12 PKV Racing), also had an impressive drive to round out the top five finishers. Legge, who made history last month in Long Beach when she became the first woman to win a major open-wheel event in North America, came from eighth on the starting grid to earn a bonus point for the most improved positions in the race.
Zwolsman claimed the lead in the race for the series championship with his win, but Bessette and Legge remain in hot pursuit. Zwolsman now owns 60 championship points after two rounds of competition, while Bessette and Legge are tied for second place in the title rundown with 54 points each on the season.
First-year driver Kyle Kelley (#24 UP Racing.com/Pauline's Antiques/Toyota of Huntington Beach/T. Christy) posted his best series result in sixth place today while Mexican driver Memo Rojas (#10 Telmex) turned in a solid effort in front of his home country fans. Rojas earned a seventh-place result for Brooks Associates Racing in his Atlantic debut.
Winning the battle for the Yokohama Tire C2 Cup in Monterrey was Tom Nastasi (#23 USG Sheetrock/Ramset Tools), who finished 9th overall but led the C2 class contingent while also posting the fastest C2 lap in the race.
