Pit stops make the difference in 2.5 hour enduro for GoGogear.com Hyundai
Genesis Coupe

The 2025 season opener presented an unusual challenge for the USTCC drivers, a 2.5 hour

endurance format. Picking up where the 2024 season left off, the 2025 opener’s endurance

format meant that the drivers and teams had to adapt to the challenge. For Reza Arsham, the

challenge meant a switch of cars for the weekend. The #31 Konig Wheels Hyundai Genesis

Coupe was preferred to his typical Honda Civic Type R due to the larger fuel tank and longer

range for the race. Saturday’s qualifying looked like Reza had a great chance at pole position,

but a transponder fault meant that his time did not count. Instead Arsham settled for starting the

race towards the back of the grid. The endurance race on Sunday had a fast start as the 2024

runner up made quick work of the grid to move into second place. As Arsham was chasing

Enrique Ferrera, for the lead in the TC class, Ferrera had a catastrophic and instantaneous

engine failure that brought out the safety car and gave Arsham the lead of the race. Once the

race resumed, Arsham settled into the lead and set out to deliver a consistent pace to control

the race from the front. As the fuel load lightened, and the pit window opened Arsham found

himself with nearly a 30 second lead over his teammate in second place. The pitstop for Arsham

was fairly routine, with no errors, however the decision to add over 10 gallons of fuel cost

Arsham too much time. He found himself jumped in the stops after taking too much fuel. To

compensate, Arsham picked up the pace and tried to catch back up after dropping to second.

However, the race was unexpectedly cut about 10 minutes short and put an abrupt end to

Arsham’s charge back to the lead of the race. When the checkered flag flew, Arsham had to

settle for second place in the opener. A good haul of points towards the championship, but not

what Arsham had in mind for the weekend. Luckily, Arsham won’t have to wait too long to get

back on track and try to take the top step of the podium with the second round in only two short

week’s time.