February 26-27, 2011
THR-W drivers Sage Marie, Matthew Staal and Lee Niffenegger kicked off their 2011 SCCA National season in their Honda Racing/HPD BFGoodrich machines with a combined five race wins and three track records and the San Diego/Cal Club Double National event held the last weekend of February.
Sage Marie claimed the T3 class checkered flag in each of the two races in his Honda Racing/HPD BFGoodrich Honda S2000 CR, earning a new track record in the process. The racing was close, however, as fellow Honda S2000 CR driver, Tom Wickersham, started first in class both days, and remained locked in close battle with Marie throughout the weekend
Also starting from second in the Saturday race, Matthew Staal pushed hard to get past the Mazda of Marc Hoover to take home the STU class victory and a new track record in his HPD BFGoodrich RSX-S, but retired from the Sunday race with transmission issues
Lee Niffenegger ran uncontested in SSB to claim first place points on both days, but pushed hard never-the-less, breaking a five year old track record on Sunday.
“With such strong competition this weekend, and with such parity between cars and drivers, the BFGoodrich tires really did seem to be the differentiating factor that enabled us to win,” said Marie. “It’s good to see more Hondas showing up at the track. It seems that Honda Racing/HPD’s support of club racing is starting to pay dividends.”
The team’s next race is March 26-27 at Thunderhill Raceway Park. ###
