Topless Grand Prix 2024 at Aquiles Speedway Park

The 2024 Topless Grand Prix at Aquiles Speedway Park marked the penultimate round of the championship and was also the last night race of the season. Despite the anticipation generated by the proximity of the end of the calendar, the event began with delays due to issues with the timing system, a situation similar to the previous race. However, this time, the system completely failed throughout the night, preventing the recording of official lap times. With the season nearing its end, several championships could have been nearly decided after this round, leaving the final race as a mere formality for some competitors.

Novatos V8

The Novatos V8 race began with 17 cars on the grid, highlighting Iván Moreno (444) and Edwin Terrazas (28) in the top spots. Everything proceeded normally until a yellow flag was waved due to a fire outbreak in Alfonso Contreras' car (98), apparently caused by an electrical failure.

The race restart was chaotic. Iván Moreno, who started from pole position, made an illegal lane change by moving from the inside to the outside before crossing the start line, causing the cars to line up improperly and preventing the green flag from being waved. Amid the confusion, Ernesto Amaya failed to notice the absence of the green flag and overtook everyone on the inside line, leading to a crash with Edwin Terrazas. This incident caused Terrazas to suffer a puncture in his front left tire, forcing him to pit for a tire change.

The rule is clear: any driver who leaves the track for assistance cannot return to the race. However, Edwin Terrazas insisted on rejoining and argued with the staff at the track access point. His eventual retirement took him out of the championship fight.

Thanks to this chaos, championship leader Iván Armendariz (11) managed to move up to the top positions. In the end, Iván Moreno (444) took the victory, followed by Armendariz (11) in second place, and Miguel Tarango (76) completing the podium in third.

Pony Expertos

In the Pony Expertos category, a total of 12 cars lined up on the grid. From the start, Manuel Pérez (13) took the lead and dominated the race from start to finish without facing much pressure. While Pérez comfortably controlled the race, the focus shifted to the intense battle for second place.

Jorge Gómez (17), Diego Acosta (35), and Agustín Chavira (01) were involved in an intense battle over several laps. Eventually, Jorge Gómez secured second place, though not without problems: after crossing the finish line during the cooldown lap, he lost a tire, showing how tough the race had been. Diego Acosta (35) completed the podium in third, leaving Chavira out of the top positions.

Estandar V8

The Estandar V8 category featured 14 cars on the grid. Championship leader Filiberto Guerra (F21) chose a conservative strategy, avoiding direct battles. With a 17-point lead over his closest rival, Fernando Tapia (21), Guerra focused on earning points and minimizing the risk of a possible DNF, thus securing his position in the overall standings.

While Guerra stuck to his strategy, Gustavo Pérez (18) claimed victory after a solid performance. Óscar Carrasco (555) crossed the line in second place, followed by Aníbal García (M19), who completed the podium in third.

Modificada

The Modificada category featured just 6 cars on the grid, but that did not detract from the intensity of the race. Humberto Pérez (8), who came in with an almost insurmountable lead in the championship, left no room for surprises and dominated from start to finish. His closest rival, Aarón Córdova, needed to win and hope for a disastrous result from Pérez to keep his championship hopes alive, but that scenario did not materialize.

Pérez secured the victory, cementing his position as champion. Leopoldo Loera (33) finished in second place, while Oswaldo Fierro (7) completed the podium in third.

Libre

The Libre category had a reduced lineup, as two of the four confirmed drivers did not show up at the last minute. Gerardo Balderrama (72) returned to the track after several months of absence and proved that his inactivity had not affected his performance, easily taking the victory. Aarón Córdova (7) finished second, while Gustavo Pérez (3) completed the podium in third place.

Pony Novatos

With 32 cars entered, the Pony Novatos race stood out for its cleanliness, as there was no yellow flag, which is uncommon in such a large grid. Julián Téllez (12) dominated the race and took first place, followed by Emilio Pérez (79) in second place. Jaime Carbajal (113) secured third with a solid performance.

Vintage

In the Vintage category, 10 cars entered to compete. José Corral (74) took the victory after a well-controlled race. Jonathan Sigala (04) finished in second place, while David Andujo (8) secured the third spot on the podium.

Conclusion

With the season finale in sight, the 2024 Topless Grand Prix has been key in shaping several championships. For some, like Humberto Pérez in Modificada, the title is practically secured. For others, the final race will be decisive. The championship will close on November 24, where several titles are still up for grabs, promising an intense day of competition.