by Rod Hughes

The bright red Toyota Supra of Javier Quiros snaked around the twisty course at La Guacima yesterday for a win in the Three Hours of Costa Rica and a second place in the championship for their class. A record 20,000 spectators, the most in the 33 years of the circuit’s history, saw Quiros come from very last place to the checkered flag at the head of the pack.

Quiros was at the back of the grid due to engine trouble on Saturday that kept him from qualifying. But the mechanics cured the defect for Sunday and the Supra, introduced this year, ran like a clock Sunday. He has overcome various adversities throughout the season and possibly could have won the championship if he had not had to stand down for two dates of the championship races. As it was he won four out of six races and only finished one point behind the leader.

First on the grid was Emilio “Milo” Valverde’s Nissan, second was Guatemalan Carlos Zaid’s Corvette. But by lap 13 Quiros had made is way through the pack to breathe down Valverde’s neck and he took the lead two laps later. But, while chasing Quiros, the Nissan’s greabox gave up the ghost, leaving second place to Zaid.

In the second heat, Quiros had an easier time of it, being first on the grid due to his previous win. Zaid’s Corvette soon ceased to be a challenge, dropping out with electric problems. Overall GT-1 second place went to Marco Micangelli’s Corvette and third to Jorge Trejos in a Porsche 911. GT-3A class win went to Amadeos Quiros in a Alterra and GT-3B to Marco Castro in a Honda Civic.