TORONTO — Alessandro de Tullio executed a spectacular last-lap pass in this morning’s thrilling second leg of the Continental Tire Grand Prix of Toronto doubleheader to claim victory for Turn 3 Motorsport.
It was the Miami native’s fourth USF Pro 2000 win of the season.
Frankie Mossman had to settle for second place after leading most of the 25-lap race for VRD Racing, while Jacob Douglas maintained his streak of podium finishes after taking third for Pabst Racing.
Qualifying for race two on Saturday morning saw de Tullio lay down his intentions following a difficult second half of the season. His best lap edged newly crowned champion Max Garcia (Pabst Racing) by just over a tenth of a second.
It was enough for his fourth Continental Tire Pole Award of the season, but his first since NOLA Motorsports Park in April.
De Tullio narrowly held onto his advantage at the rolling start, while Garcia opted for a cautious approach to the first corner which cost him a couple of positions to Mossman, who had started fifth but immediately stormed up on the inside line under braking for Turn One, and third-place qualifier Max Taylor (VRD Racing).
Mossman’s bold move cost him momentum on the exit which allowed both Taylor and Garcia to sneak back ahead on the long drag along Lake Shore Boulevard to Turn Three. Then, through the ensuing left-handed kink at Turn Four, contact between Taylor and Garcia sent the latter spinning.
Miraculously, a furious Garcia kept his car off the wall and rejoined at the tail end of the field. He then posted a masterful recovery drive and posted the fastest lap of the race before finishing ninth. It was truly a champion’s performance.
Taylor lost a few positions following the contretemps, then retired only a few laps later following another incident, this time with hometown hero Mac Clark (Exclusive Autosport) at Turn Three.
Mossman executed a fine pass on de Tullio for the lead under braking for Turn Three on the sixth lap, but was never able to shake off his pursuer.
The two leaders remained in close formation, gradually eking out a small margin over a similarly tight battle for third between Liam McNeilly (Jay Howard Driver Development) and Douglas.
Mossman began to feel the pressure in the closing stages, making sure, especially, that he left no opportunity for de Tullio to make a pass at the preferred overtaking point in Turn Three.
Instead, de Tullio glimpsed the smallest of gaps under braking for Turn One on the very last lap and dived for the inside at the very last moment. There was no way for Mossman to respond.
Once into the lead, de Tullio kept his rival at bay for the final one and a half miles to win by far the most exciting race of the season thus far.
The battle for third also was decided in the final few laps. Only this time McNeilly was adjudged by Race Control to have made a defensive move in reaction to an attempted maneuver by Douglas, and was instructed to cede the position.
McNeilly did, reluctantly, and had to be content with fourth to cap a mightily impressive debut weekend.
Another late pass by Ariel Elkin (TJ Speed Motorsports) elevated the Israeli to fifth ahead of Pabst Racing’s Michael Costello.
