The RiceRace F1600 team was very strong at Pittsburgh International Race Complex but could not find the top step of the podium. The team of Will Holtz, Kyle August, Jonathan Lee, and Thomas Schrage ran in the top half dozen in the strong 27 car F1600 field in each session. Newcomer Schrage topped the time sheets in first practice and then took pole position, with August not far behind in 3rd, and Holtz in 5th. With a drying track in play for Race 1, the 3 appeared in good shape, as they were the only front-runners to grid on slicks. An unscheduled track repair on the pace lap aborted the start, resulting in a half hour delay. Race 1 started just as it was supposed to be finished, as did a fresh dose of rain. The three fought heroically on slicks against the other leaders on rain tires, to come home in 4th, 6th, and 7th. Lee, who was on rain tires, had some misadventure and salvaged 8th position. The resulting fastest laps, which set the grid for race 2, put the 3 slick-runners in a hole that hampered them the rest of the event. Lee, having the opposite situation, started 3rd for race 2.
Jonathan Lee led the RiceRace group in Race 2 with a strong 2nd place, with Schrage just behind in 4th, and August in 6th. Holtz had a strong result going, running in 4th late in the race before going off track to avoid another car, and ending up in the tire wall. Poor starting positions hampered the group again in Race 3, but Schrage was 2nd, Holtz 4th, and Lee 5th.
The FRP event was outstanding with 27 F1600 entries and good racing in other classes. The F1600 Series resumes at Road America on August 1st.
Although only half way through the 2021 season, the Rice Race team is mostly booked for this year, and looking to fill seats for 2022. Team owner Greg Rice reports, "We would like to get prospective drivers in the cars this summer and fall so we can evaluate and build the strongest driver line-up that we can. We always like to get new drivers in cars for the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta on November 5-8th. In 2022, we will be running 3 F1600 Mygales in FRP and our Citation FC in SCCA events, joined by some Mygales. We can do 12-15 events including the June Sprints and Runoffs. Interested drivers should contact me at RiceRacePrep@gmail.com."
