15-year-old Anthony Martella takes maiden win in Toronto
The 15-year-old Anthony Martella becoming the youngest race winner in the Sports Car Championship Canada history when he dominated the sixth round of the series at Toronto’s street circuit.
With the SCCC featuring within the frame of the popular Indycar Grand Prix, Richard Boake and Martella took one race win apiece. Saturday, Boake drove his Blanchet Motorsport-run car to his third victory of the season, while Martella was victorious in Sunday’s Race 2.
These results mean that Boake has retaken the lead in the standings, 23 points ahead of the previous leader Gary Kwok who endured a difficult weekend, while Martella has climbed to third, 38 points off the leader.
Race 1 – Martella had the pole in the TCR class, with series returnee Tom Kwok alongside him; at the start the pair led the field, while Gary Kwok, Boake and Connor Attrell were following. Further behind Megan Tomlinson spun after making contact with Jonathan Young. In the first part of the race, Martella was chased by Gary Kwok who has passed his brother Tom in lap 3, but then the leader began to increase the gap. Boake overtook Tom Kwok in lap 6 and then Gary Kwok in lap 8, moving up to second. The race was then held behind the safety car for a long time as the track was cleaned after a competitor from another class had hit the wall. Competition resumed in lap 19, with only six minutes left on the clock and Boake pipped Martella moving into the lead. Martella tried to strike back and during the two final laps made several attempts to retake the first position, but Boake did not open any gaps and won by less than two tenths. Gary Kwok finished third ahead of his teammates Young and Tom Kwok.
Race 2 – At the start, Tom Kwok spun, while Ron Tomlinson took the lead from Gary Kwok and Martella who soon was able to pass Kwok at T8. In lap 5, Martella moved into the lead overtaking Tomlinson also at T8; behind the two leaders, Kwok was followed by Boake and Megan Tomlinson. Boake then overtook Kwok and Ron Tomlinson advancing to second and began to close in on Martella; they were split by half-a-second in lap 11. Three laps later, Tomlinson and Kwok made contact and dropped a few places, which promoted Megan Tomlinson to third. However, Megan’s father was able to recover to third, while his daughter was also passed by Connor Attrell. In lap 27, Tom Kwok crashed against a wall causing a full course yellow, which is the way the race finished with Martella the winner with a comfortable margin over Boake who kept Ron Tomlinson at bay to finish second.
The next event is the Grand Prix Trois Rivières, on August 9/11.
Toronto – Race 1
- Richard Boake (Blanchet Motorsports, Audi RS 3 LMS), 24 laps
- Anthony Martella (Martella Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 0.190
- Gary Kwok (M&S Racing, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 7.793
Toronto – Race 2
- Anthony Martella (Martella Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 28 laps
- Richard Boake (Blanchet Motorsports, Audi RS 3 LMS), 26.317
- Ron Tomlinson (TWOth Autosport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 27.402
Championship points
- R. Boake, 207 pts; 2. G. Kwok, 184; 3. A. Martella, 169
Picture: FEL Motorsports
