2010 media guide - SCCA Pro Racing

Transcription

2010 MEDIA GUIDE
WWW.WORLD-CHALLENGE.COM
THIS IS HOW RACING SHOULD BE
TABLE of CONTENTS
2010 Schedule................................................................................4
WC Vision Information.....................................................................5
SCCA Pro Racing Information........................................................6
The Sponsors................................................................................12
The Circuits...................................................................................17
The Series.....................................................................................27
History
2009 Season Review....................................................................41
2009 GT Race Recaps..................................................................47
2009 Touring Car Race Recaps....................................................71
The Drivers....................................................................................95
The Cars ....................................................................................129
GT
....................................................................................130
GTS
....................................................................................139
Touring Car.................................................................................147
The Records................................................................................153
......................................................................................33
SCCA, SCCA Pro Racing, Trans-Am,
Can-Am, Super Vee, Racetruck, World
Challenge and Fast Five are registered
trademarks of Sports Car Club of America,
Inc.
2010 World Challenge Media Guide
This book was designed, created and
produced by SCCA’s Communications
staff. Please direct any questions or
comments to: [email protected] or contact
the staff at (800)770-2055. This book was
digitally created using Adobe inDesign,
Illustrator and Photoshop.
Photography by SCCA Pro Racing, Mark
Weber/Exclusive Sports Car Photography
(314)583-8259.
1
Dear Members of the Media,
Welcome to the 20th anniversary season of the World Challenge Championships.
This series has truly become an institution in North American motorsports. Nowhere
else can you witness such a diverse mix of automobiles competing on the same track
in a unique sprint format such as this. Competitors, sponsors and fans have recognized
the appeal, and support for World Challenge continues to expand.
In mid-2008, SCCA Pro Racing began a new relationship with WC Vision, which has
become the series’ marketing and managing partner. Already, the agreement has
proven to be fruitful for both parties and World Challenge will prosper as a result. I
commend WC Vision for their excellent work thus far and I anticipate more exciting
news from them throughout the season.
Truth be told, this series is just as much about the people as it is the cars. The SCCA
Pro Racing staff is genuinely proud of this series and what it represents. They enjoy
the work they do, which makes them the best in the business. The teams are equally
as committed to the series and consistently do what they need to do to help World
Challenge grow. Look no further than WC Vision, a group of competitors who have
invested their own money in the series, as proof that this paddock stands behind its
product.
As you might imagine, such passionate characters make for rather interesting interviews. Our competitors have some great stories to share, so I encourage you to track
a couple down and learn more about their role in World Challenge. As I said before, our
staff is the best in the business, so if you have a question not answered by this media
guide, ask any one of our officials and they’ll track down the answer for you. I, too,
am always willing to make time for your questions. Even if you don’t have any, please
don’t hesitate to introduce yourself.
Enjoy the season,
Robert (Bob) Wildberger
SCCA Pro Racing President & CEO
2
Dear Members of the Media,
As we enter our 21st consecutive season for the World Challenge Championships in
2010, I’m confident our unique brand of racing will provide you with interesting and
exciting motorsports stories to keep you audience engaged and intrigued race after
race.
During the off-season, we were busy building elements of the series and there are
many spectacular changes in store this year. First off, we have a new TV partner with
VERSUS. All of our 12 races will be broadcast on VERSUS in 90-minute, Saturday or
Sunday afternoon timeslots. Secondly, we are launching a new marketing initiative
entitled Sports Car Wars. Thirdly, we have a new class of cars running in 2010. The GTS
class was initiated to help bring an even larger and more diverse group of race teams
and cars to the fans of our series.
The World Challenge Championships are exciting 50-minute sprints, featuring topnotch drivers and teams, zero scheduled pitstops or driver changes. We are the only
North American sports car series featuring a standing start and top manufacturer
platforms including new for 2010, a Nissan GT-R team. Our drivers, team leads, and
officials are always accessible to give you that quote or detailed information you require
to complete your story.
We look forward to seeing you at our races in 2010 and thank you for bringing World
Challenge to motorsports fans.
See you at the track,
Dave Drimmie, VP Marketing and Communications, WC Vision
Scott Bove, Director of Business Operations, WC Vision
Bob Woodhouse, Co-chair, WC Vision
Peter Cunningham, Co-chair, WC Vision
3
SCCA Pro
2010 World Challenge Championships Event
and Television Schedules
Date
Venue
With
TV**
March 26 - 28
Honda GP of St. Petersburg*
IRL
April 18
St. Petersburg, Fla.
April 16 - 18
Toyota GP of Long Beach
2 p.m.
IRL/ALMS
May 1
Mosport International Raceway*
Co-Headliner
July 31
Bowmanville, Ont. (Canada)
w/Trans-Am
3 p.m.
Watkins Glen International
IRL
July 17
Long Beach, Calif.
May 21 - 23
July 2 - 3
4:30 p.m.
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
July 16 - 18
Honda Indy Toronto
11 p.m.
IRL
July 31
Toronto, Ont. (Canada)
3 p.m.
Aug. 6 - 8
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course*
IRL/ALMS
Sept. 10 - 12
VIRginia International Raceway*
Co-Headliner
Sept. 26
Alton, Va.
w/Trans-Am
4:30 p.m.
Miller Motorsports Park
Headliner
Oct. 17
Lexington, Ohio
Oct. 1 - 3
Tooele, Utah
Aug. 28
4:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
*- Doubleheader
**-TV Times Eastern, on Versus
4
Peter Cunningham
WC Vision
Co-Chair
Scott Bove
Director, Business
Operations
WC Vision
WC Vision Chairs & Staff
Bob Woodhouse
WC Vision
Co-Chair
Dave Drimmie
VP, Marketing &
Communications
Contact Information
WC Vision
(416) 604-3113
Dave Drimmie: [email protected]
5
SCCA Pro
SCCA Pro Racing President & CEO
Robert (Bob) Wildberger
Bob Wildberger was named SCCA Pro Racing
President on Dec. 15, 2006.
Wildberger comes to SCCA Pro Racing after a colorful
motorsports career at DamlerChrysler, which saw him
last serve as Senior Manager of Dodge Motorsports
before his retirement earlier in 2006.
After beginning his automotive career at American
Motors Corporation in the 1970’s, Wildberger joined
Chrysler in 1987. In his tenure, he led Chrysler’s
development of motorsports from a minor presence in
the early 1990’s to a major force by 2001. Wilderberger
developed programs in many top racing series,
including SCCA Pro Racing (World Challenge), SCORE,
IMSA, NHRA and led the launch of Dodge’s NASCAR
program.
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Staff
Pat di Natale
World Challenge
Chief Steward
Kathy Maleck
Field Staff Manager
6
Dee Duncan
Events Coordinator
& Registrar
Neil Hannemann Melissa Flesher
WC Competition
Director
Jenny McAbee
Marketing &
Communications
Specialist
Marketing Services
Manager
Wyndi
McCormick
Executive Assistant
SCCA Pro
Eric Prill
Robin Prill
Robert Story
VP, Marketing &
Communications
Series
Administrator
Data & Simulation
Engineer
Ken Tripkos
Mark Weber
Reece White
Competition &
Technical Manager
Official Series
Photographer
PR Manager
Race and Technical Operations: Bob Goppold, Mike Hirner, George Housner, Kathy
Maleck, Tom Mikwold, Ed Pasquale, Mike Pasquale, Rick Wong
Assistant Chief Steward: Morris Hamm
Starters: Jerry Russet & Ken Silva
Timing & Scoring: Rich Lankford, Bruce Gary, Connie Peplowski
Announcer: Tom Hnatiw
Chaplain: Dan Lacy
Series Contact Information
SCCA Pro Racing • World Challenge • Mazda MX-5 Cup • VW Jetta Cup • Trans-Am
PO Box 19400 • 6700 SW Topeka Blvd., Bldg. 300, B Street • Topeka, KS 66619-0400
(800) 770-2055 toll-free • (785) 357-7223 phone • (785) 233-7223 fax
www.sccapro.com • www.world-challenge.com
7
SCCA Pro
SCCA Pro Racing Information
General: SCCA Pro Racing® Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Car Club of
America, Inc.—a 45,000-member organization dedicated to motorsports events. SCCA Pro
Racing sanctions several professional racing series: the World Challenge® Championships,
Trans-Am Series, Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, Pro Spec Racer Ford, Pro Formula Enterprises,
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup and the F2000 Championship Series. Each series holds events
on high-profile race weekends and annually crowns champions.
World Challenge®: With three separate classes of competition (GT, GTS and Touring
Car), World Challenge is North America’s top production car-based championship. World
Challenge events are a maximum of 50 minutes start to finish, feature standing starts and
the world’s most popular manufacturers racing head-to-head. World Challenge competition
was born in the mid-1980s with the SCCA Endurance Championship, transforming into the
World Challenge in 1990.
SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series®: First running in 1966, the iconic Trans-Am Series
returns as a full professional program in 2010 for the first time since 2005. Running
90-mile sprint races, Trans-Am features 800-horsepower V8 “silhouette” cars including
the Jaguar XKR, Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro and Ford Mustang.
SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup: Stepping up in place of the former
Mazdaspeed Miata Cup, the Mazda MX-5 Cup made its debut in 2006. Featuring grids of
30-plus Mazda MX-5s on spec tires, MX-5 Cup is part of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports
Development Ladder. Each year, an amateur racing Champion earns a ride in the MX-5 Cup
and the MX-5 Cup Champion earns a ride in a series on the next step of the development
ladder.
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup: Making its North American debut
in 2008, the Jetta TDI Cup selects thirty young drivers to compete in factory prepared
and maintained clean diesel Jetta TDIs. The series is designed as a training ground for
up-and-coming drivers with race, media and physical training held throughout the season.
Pro Spec Racer Ford: The popular entry-level professional series returns in 2010,
featuring the SCCA Enterprises-built Spec Racer Ford, a single-seat, purpose-built sports
racing car with an emphasis on vehicle parity.
Pro Formula Enterprises: Making its professional debut is the rapidly growing Formula
Car offering from SCCA Enterprises. The 2.3-liter open wheel car is a great platform for
the driver looking to advance up the motorsports ladder.
Formula 2000: The F2000 Championship Series is aimed at filling the void in entry-level,
single-seat road racing. The F2000 Championship Series provides an alternative for a
wide spectrum of Formula Continental competitors currently racing in both amateur and
professional events.
Founded: SCCA was founded in February 1944. SCCA Pro Racing was separated into a
wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary in December 1993.
First Professional SCCA Event: February 3, 1963 at Daytona International Speedway.
United States Road Racing Championship. Jim Hall was the winner.
8
Members of the Media: Welcome to World Challenge. We thank you for your interest
and look forward to serving you throughout the season. Our role is to provide you the most
thorough and up-to-date information and assist you in your coverage needs. If you have
any questions or requests, please don’t hesitate to contact us (see pg. 5).
Media Credentials: The World Challenge Communications Department does not issue
media credentials for individual events. Single-event credentials are the responsibility of
the respective race circuit. We recommend that you place your credential request at least
30 days in advance of the event. Policies vary from track to track, but we recommend that
you contact the circuit in writing, on your company letterhead.
Photo Credentials: World Challenge does not issue photo or video credentials. All
requests for photographic access must be made to the media relations representative at
each specific track.
Trackside Services: The World Challenge Communications department offers members
of the media a running record of race-weekend activities—ranging from driver quotes
to pit reports—to keep you informed of all activities. All statistical reports—practice
times, qualifying grids and race results—are distributed to the media after each session.
After qualifying sessions and races, the top drivers are brought to the media facility for
interviews. Closed-circuit video and timing and scoring monitors are available in the media
centers. Any special needs, such as private telephone lines or sound booths, should be
arranged through the circuit’s media relations representative at each specific track.
News and Sports TV Access: World Challenge encourages news and sports coverage
of its events. A broadcast-quality feed is usually available at the TV compound. News/
sports organizations may record the feed for race highlights provided they abide by certain
limitations and courtesy the host network (Versus).
Interviews of Drivers and Officials: World Challenge Communications will arrange
driver interviews, either in-person or via telephone, on request. Interviews of SCCA Pro
Racing officials (President, Chief Steward, Competition Director, etc.) must be arranged
through the Communications Department.
Pit/Paddock Restrictions: Safety and insurance regulations require SCCA Pro Racing
to enforce the following guidelines in restricted areas such as the hot pits and paddock:
(1) Shorts are not permitted; (2) Shirts and shoes are required; (3) Smoking is prohibited
at all times; and (4) Access over the pit wall during events is prohibited.
Electronic News Distribution: World Challenge Communications is equipped to send
publicity releases and race results via e-mail. Requests should be directed to World
Challenge Communications.
Photography/B-roll: World Challenge offers B-roll and digital still photography upon
request.
Photographers/Videographers: Keep in mind that your assignments are potentially
dangerous. Photographers/ videographers should always check with the respective track
PR reps for shooting locations, as shooting areas are restricted.
Don’t question the authority of an official in regard to shooting locations. If you disagree
with an official’s assessment of the situation, return to the event media center and contact
World Challenge Communications or event PR representatives.
9
Media Services
Media Services
Style Guide
Style Guide
World Challenge Championships
First Usage:
World Challenge® Championships
SCCA Pro Racing
WC Vision
Toyo TiresTM Proxes® R888TM (pronounced R-triple eight)
Second Usage:
World Challenge
SCCA Pro
WCV
Toyo or Toyo R888 (for actual tire)
The term World Challenge is all-encompassing, including the separate class races held
each weekend GT, GTS and Touring Car.
First Usage:
World Challenge GT Championship
World Chalelnge GTS Championship
World Challenge Touring Car Championship
Second Usage:
WC GT
WC GTS
WC TC
Other SCCA Pro Racing Style
First Usage:
SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series
SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup
SCCA Pro Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
F2000 Championship Series
Second Usage:
Trans-Am
MX-5 Cup
TDI Cup
F2000
10
Sponsors
Manufacturer Sponsor
One of the leading manufacturers of high-performance sport compacts, sedans and sports cars, Acura returns to the World Challenge
Championships as a manufacturer contingency sponsor. A division
of American Honda, Acura has contributed to the company’s 13
Manufacturers’ Championships in 18 years – more than any other manufacturer. Acura has won races in both the GT and Touring Car classes,
and its 72 wins currently rank first all-time for an individual marque. www.acura.com
Contingency Sponsor
Airgas has long been the main air and nitrogen supplier to professional race teams and offers both service and contingency sponsorship
to teams participating in the World Challenge Championships. www.
airgas.com
Contingency Sponsor
While relatively new to North America, AST Suspension has been developing street and race dampers since 2001. Whether it’s the 24 Hours
of Dubai, the deserts of Dakar, or the local autocross, AST uses its 40
years of industry experience to keep tires on the pavement regardless of application. In 2010, AST
will continue to show its strength in the motorsports industry by offering contingency awards for all
World Challenge Championships teams. www.ast-usa.com
Contingency Sponsor
BBS celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2010 leading the way in motorsport and alloy wheel production. Nowhere are demands higher or stresses
greater than they are in motor racing. Leading auto manufacturers such
as Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Audi, VW, Ford and Chrysler to name a few use
BBS as original equipment. For the 2010 season, BBS of America will offer contingency awards to
teams competing in World Challenge GT and GTS. www.bbs-usa.com
Official Sponsor
The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving has
been named the Official Driving School of the World Challenge
Championships. The prestigious driving school has signed on
for several ventures with the series this year including season finale sponsorship and transferable
gift certificate awards for each race winner. For the fans, three $500 gift certificates will be raffled
off at each event, and a fantasy racing league (www.WorldChallengeTV.com) with a four-day racing
school awarded to the winner. www.bondurant.com
Graphics Partner
The Official Graphics Supplier of SCCA Pro Racing, Competition
Graphics has been a leading supplier of automotive and motorsports graphics and corporate identity to businesses throughout
the USA since 1987, offering complete in-house design, production and installation, motorsports
decals, fleet markings, grand format digital banners and dimensional/architectural signage. www.
competitiongraphics.com
Dodge returns in 2010 as a manufacturer sponsor for its
Viper Competition Coupe. The Viper group introduced the
Competition Coupe in 2002 for the 2003 season. In 2004, it carried Tommy Archer to the Drivers’
Championship and became the most popular car in the GT class. A division of Chrysler Group LLC,
Viper is sold under the Dodge nameplate which also manufactures a full line of both cars and trucks.
www.dodge.com www.viperheadquarters.com
12
Contingency Sponsor
The highest in strength, quality and performance, Forgeline
wheels have been mounted on winning cars in World Challenge
Championships competition for years. For 2010, Forgeline
Motorsports returns to the World Challenge Championships as a contingency sponsor for the World
Challenge GT, GTS and Touring Car Championships. www.forgeline.com
Contingency Sponsor
In 2002, Hawk Corporation and Sports Car Club of America Inc.
announced an agreement naming Hawk Performance the Official
Brake Products of SCCA. Hawk Performance is one of the world’s
top brake friction manufacturers for the motorsports, performance automotive, fleet, powersports,
industrial, military and aerospace markets. For the 2010 season, Hawk will continue to provide contingency payouts for World Challenge Championships teams performing with their product. www.
hawkperformance.com
American Honda will expand its World Challenge Championships manufacturer contingency sponsorship for the 2010 season to include the Civic
Si in GTS competition. Honda won consecutive World Challenge Touring
Car Manufacturers’ Championships from 1993-96, as well as Drivers’
Championships in both 1995 and 1996. www.honda.com
TV Broadcast Partner
For the 2010 season, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions (IMS)
will produce the television broadcasts for the 2010 World Challenge
Championships. IMS Productions has provided outstanding production
and technical facilities for the IZOD IndyCar® Series and will manage
production, provide the post-production of the World Challenge broadcasts and deliver the product to Versus where it will reach over 64 million
households across the US. www.imsproductions.tv
Internal Combustion Group (ICG) will provide in-show features for World
Challenge broadcasts as well as the announce team of Tom Hnatiw, the longtime at-track voice of SCCA Pro Racing and World Challenge, and Greg Creamer,
who has called televised World Challenge races for the last 10 years. ICG will
provide the fans with intelligent and insightful World Challenge commentary,
analysis and features. www.internalcombustiongroup.com
Official Sponsor
Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner is the #1 selling auto glass
cleaner in North America! In 2010, Invisible Glass continues to support the World Challenge Championships as an official sponsor and
will help teams “Make Glass INVISIBLE” with product kit prizes. Visit
InvisibleGlass.com for a complete line of glass care products, as well
as free samples, tips, prizes, and more. www.invisibleglass.com
13
Sponsors
The Ford Mustang and sports car racing, the two have gone handin-hand since the car’s debut in 1964. After picking up seven GT
podium finishes and the drivers’ point championship with driver
Brandon Davis in 2009, Ford will return to the World Challenge
Championships as a manufacturer sponsor for the 2010 season
with the championship winning ACS Mustang GT and the newly released Ford 302R in the World
Challenge GTS class. www.fordracing.com
Sponsors
Contingency Sponsor
Mazda manufacturers a full line of cars, including the Mazda3, Mazda6, and
RX-8 which all compete in the World Challenge Championships. Mazda captured
its first-ever World Challenge Touring Car titles in 2007, claiming both the
Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ Championships. Mazda won three races in 2009,
and MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development ladder driver Eric Foss won the
2009 Rookie of the Year Award in the Touring Car class. Mazda will return to the
World Challenge Championships as a contingency sponsor for the 2010 season.
www.mazdaspeeddevelopment.com
Official Sponsor
MTM – Special Ops Watch is the leading manufacturer of tactical military
watches and is now recognized as the Official Watch of the World Challenge
Championships. After years of development, and in cooperation with Special
Forces and Navy Seals units, MTM unveiled the exclusive Pro Ops Series. MTMSpecial Ops Watch is committed to the development of technologically advanced
tactical timepieces. As the Best Move of the Race sponsor, MTM will award a
limited edition watch to the competitor who makes the best move during each
2010 World Challenge race. www.specialopswatch.com
Since Nissan first came to the United States to sell vehicles in 1958 they
have built a strong reputation in the American market. Nissan prides itself on
having what it takes to build cars and trucks with the power to change both
the way you view the world and the way you move in it. Likewise, Nissan
has a long heritage with the World Challenge Championships, including the
1993 Class A Drivers’ Championship with Elliott Forbes-Robinson in a 300ZX
and Peter Cunningham’s race winning Sentra SE-R in 2003 and 2004. Nissan
returns to World Challenge in 2010 as a manufacturer sponsor in support of its Nissan GT-R cars
competing in the World Challenge GT Championship. www.nissanusa.com
Official Sponsor
OPTIMA Batteries, manufactured by Johnson Controls, Inc., provides
industry-leading batteries which represent premium performance.
OPTIMA will continue to strengthen its position in the aftermarket performance automotive industry by maintaining the position of Official
Battery of the World Challenge Championships. OPTIMA Batteries will also continue to offer awards
for all podium finishing teams. www.optimabatteries.com
Porsche will continue its support of the World
Challenge Championships and the competitors running in Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars (911 Type
997) by returning as a manufacturer sponsor in 2010 to defend the 2009 World Challenge GT
Manufacturers’ Championship title. Porsche has won eight Manufacturers’ Championship titles in the
last 16 years, garnering 49 wins to rank fourth all-time. www.porschemotorsport.com
Official Sponsor
Race-Keeper has been named the Official Video Data System of the
World Challenge Championships in 2010. Manufactured by Trivinci
Systems, LLC, Race-Keeper is one of the world’s most capable and
trusted providers of video data loggers. Race-Keeper combines the power of high-resolution video
and data from multiple sources in one easy-to-use video data package. As part of the sponsorship,
Race-Keeper will deliver its professional-grade systems to provide data and video for the series’
television broadcasts on Versus and to series officials for incident resolution. Race-Keeper will also
provide Race-Keeper Comparo driver development software to the teams for race analysis and
instruction. www.race-keeper.com
14
Radio Communications Partner
Racing Radios has been providing superior products for the racing community for over 30 years and is the leading developer for two-way communications in the racing industry. Recognized as a worldwide leader in
racing communications, Racing Radios continues as the Official Radio
Communication Provider for SCCA and SCCA Pro Racing in 2010. www.
racingradios.com
Internet Broadcast Partner
Founded in 2006, Speedcast Productions is at the cutting-edge of
the streaming video revolution. Leveraging extensive live production
capabilities, powerful online tools and relationships throughout the television industry, Speedcast
has created the most comprehensive and cost-effective video production and delivery program in
motorsports. In 2010, Speedcast Productions will carry all 12 World Challenge Championships races
for free at SpeedcastTV.com after each event airs on Versus. www.speedcasttv.com
Official Sponsor
Sunoco, the largest manufacturer of racing gasoline in the world and the
Official Fuel of the World Challenge Championships, has a long track record
of winning performance. Recognized as the leader in the race fuel industry,
Sunoco sets the standard with every gallon of every blend. More engine builders, racers, tracks and sanctioning bodies choose Sunoco than all other racing gasoline combined! Sunoco’s track-proven fuels are designed to provide
exceptional performance, quality and consistency. www.racegas.com
Official Sponsor
The World Challenge Championships and Toyo Tires U.S.A. Corp.
have enjoyed a long relationship beginning in 2001. Initially, all
cars in both GT and Touring Car raced on Proxes® T1-S tires. This
demonstrated the capability of Toyo Tires® ultra-high performance production street tires while
helping to develop the next generation Proxes T1R™. Since 2004, the Proxes RA1™ street legal
competition tire has been exclusive to the series, followed in 2008 by the Proxes R888™. The
company continues to provide promotional and tire support with an extended contract through the
2010 season. Toyo Tires manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires with
popular product lines including Proxes (high performance passenger car, light truck and racecar),
Open Country® (light truck), and Versado™ (luxury passenger car). www.toyotires.com
The 2010 World Challenge Championships will air on VERSUS, the fastest
growing sports cable network in the country. This year’s 90-minute telecasts
will air on Saturdays and Sundays and will showcase high-quality production,
renowned announcers providing color commentary as well as feature segments
with behind-the-scenes footage. www.versus.com
15
Sponsors
Contingency Sponsor
RacingJunk.com, the largest online motorsports marketplace, is the
leading community for automotive performance enthusiasts and industry professionals throughout the world. We deliver the nation’s number
one classified web site connecting over 2.8 million buyers and sellers
viewing 70 million+ pages monthly. Our team is constantly working to bring a user friendly, FREE
classifieds website to our members and visitors. In 2010, RacingJunk.com will continue to help
World Challenge Championships teams buy, sell and trade by offering contingency awards for all
eligible podium finishers. world-challenge.racingjunk.com
Sponsors
Official Pace Vehicle & Manufacturer Sponsor
Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars, and
Europe’s largest automaker. For over 45 years, Volkswagen has been a dominating force in various forms of motorsports around the world. Today, VW
continues to write racing history by focusing on a commitment to bring clean
diesel technology to the race track. Volkswagen is the Official Pace Vehicle
of the World Challenge Championships, and a manufacturer sponsor offering
major contingency support for all Volkswagen teams competing in Touring
Car. www.vw.com
Volvo returns to the World Challenge Championships in 2010 as a
manufacturer sponsor in support of the Volvo S60s competing in the GT class. A truly stunning ride,
the S60 is a perfect marriage of art and engineering. For over 80 years, Volvo has been recognized
as the leader in automotive safety. Today, we are driven by other things too: a desire to build cars
that are less damaging to the environment, cars that make excitement the rule rather than the
exception, and above all, a commitment to delivering premium quality and innovative design for our
drivers, for their passengers, for everyone - for life. www.volvocars.com/us
16
St. Petersburg
What
Honda Grand Prix of St.
Petersburg
Where
Streets of St. Petersburg
The Circuits
When
March 26-28, 2010
Track Specs
14-turn street course
1.8 miles
Defending Champions (2006)
GT- Lawson Aschenbach
(Porsche)
TC- Randy Pobst (Mazda)
Directions (Tampa):
I-275 south
I-175 east via (left) exit 22
Keep left onto 5th Avenue S.
Track is at 1st Street S. and 5th
Avenue S.
Media Center:
Sun Pavilion Room
2nd Floor, Mahaffey Theater
Public Relations Contact:
Tip Nunn
[email protected]
office: 303.526.0994
cell:
720.318.6796
Media Credentials Contact
Tip Nunn
www.gpstpete.com (media tab)
[email protected]
Office Address
25 Second St. N, Suite 160
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
General Manager
Tim Ramsberger
Operations
Dale Dillon and Bruce Leer
Hospitality and Sales
Jeff Atkinson
Track Web site:
www.gpstpete.com
World Challenge Records
GT
Qualifying Lap
1:17.796 (83.294 mph)
Lou Gigliotti, Chevrolet Corvette, 2006
Race Lap
1:19.054 (81.969 mph)
Robin Liddell, Porsche 911 GT3, 2005
Average Speed
79.479, Lawson Aschenbach, 2006
Closest Margin of Victory
0.241-second, Tommy Archer over Robin
Liddell, 2005
18
Touring Car
*- New lap records will be set in 2010
Qualifying Lap*
1:22.983 (78.088 mph)
Randy Pobst, MAZDA6, 2005
Race Lap*
1:23.777 (77.348 mph)
Randy Pobst, MAZDA6, 2005
Average Speed
64.305 mph, Randy Pobst, 2006
0.938-second, Randy Pobst
Cunningham, 2006
over
Peter
What
What
Toyota
NAME Grand Prix of Long Beach
Long Beach
Toyo Tires World Challenge Grand Prix of
Where
Long Beach Presented by Bondurant
TRACK
Where
When
Streets of Long Beach
Long
DATE Beach, Calif.
Marketing
Office
Address
3000 Pacific Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90806
562-981-2600
Track Address
Long Beach Conv. Center
300 E. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90806
The Circuits
When
Track Specs
April
16-18, 2010
TURNS
MILES
Track Specs
Defending
11-turn street
course
Champions
1.968
GT- miles
TCDefending Champions
Media
GT- Credentials
James Sofronas
(Porsche)
Contact
Office
ChrisAddress
Esslinger
3000 Pacific Avenue
LongAddress
Beach, CA 90806
Track
Requests by U.S. Mail only
Manager
General
Deadline:
March 19
Directions (LAX):
Century Blvd. E to San Diego Freeway (I-405)
S, follow Long Beach road signs to Long Beach
Freeway (I-710) S. Exit at Broadway. Course is
downtown near the Long Beach Conv. Center.
Media Center:
Long Beach Convention and Entertainment
Center
Seaside Meeting Rooms
General Manager
Jim Michaelian
Chris Esslinger
562-490-4514
562-981-2632 - fax
[email protected]
Track Web site:
www.gplb.com
Marketing
Mike Clark
GT
Qualifying Lap
1:25.086
1:22.256 (83.266
(107.620mph)
mph)
Ron
Leighton
Fellows,
Reese,
Cadillac
Chevrolet
CTS-V,
Corvette,
2007 2005
Race Lap
1:26.205
1:24.194 (82.185
(105.142mph)
mph)
Brandon
Eric Curran,
Davis,
Chevrolet
Ford Mustang
Corvette,
Cobra,
20082008
Average Speed
79.417
103.485mph,
mph,Ron
Jason
Fellows,
Daskalos
2006over Brandon
Davis, 2009
Closest
0.730-second,
Margin ofRon
Victory
Fellows over Tommy
0.244-second,
Archer, 2006
David Farmer over Peter
Cunningham, 2002
Touring Car
2010 is the first time for the World Challenge
Qualifying
Touring Car
Lap*
and GTS classes at Long Beach.
1:29.688 (98.702 mph)
Peter Cunningham, Nissan Sentra, 2004
Race Lap*
1:29.684 (98.706 mph)
Charles Espenlaub, MAZDA6, 2005
Average Speed
96.410 mph, Michael Galati 2008
0.219-second, Adam Pecorari over Chip
Herr, 2007
19
What
Victoria Day Speedfest
presented by Optima Batteries
Mosport Int’l Raceway
Where
Mosport International Raceway
Bowmanville, Ont. (Canada)
The Circuits
When
May 21-23, 2010
Track Specs
10-turn road course
2.459 miles (3.95 km)
Directions (Toronto):
Located 100km east of Toronto. North on Highway
401 at Bowmanville. Take Durham 57 (exit 431)
North to Regional Rd. 20, east to Concession Rd.
#10
Media Center:
Infeild, adjacent to pitlane.
1st floor in Castrol Tower
905-983-9141
905-983-5195
Sarah Wight
VP, Sales & Marketing
[email protected]
Track Web site:
www.mosport.com
Defending Champions
GT- Jason Daskalos (Viper)
TC- Kuno Wittmer (Acura)
TC- Peter Cunningham (Acura)
Sarah Wight
905-983-9141 x306
[email protected]
Office Address
Same as track address
Track Address
3233 Concession Road #10
Bowmanville, ON L1C 3K6
905-983-9141
905-983-5195 - fax
800-866-1072 - tickets
President and General Manager
Myles Brandt
VP, Sales and Marketing
Jerry Priddle
World
World Challenge
Challenge Records
Records
GT
GT
Qualifying
Qualifying Lap
Lap
1:22.256
1:22.256 (107.620
(107.620 mph)
mph)
Leighton
Leighton Reese,
Reese, Chevrolet
Chevrolet Corvette,
Corvette, 2005
2005
Race
Race Lap
Lap
1:24.194
1:24.194 (105.142
(105.142 mph)
mph)
Eric
Eric Curran,
Curran, Chevrolet
Chevrolet Corvette,
Corvette, 2008
2008
Average
Average Speed
Speed
103.485
103.485 mph,
mph, Jason
Jason Daskalos
Daskalos over
over Brandon
Brandon
Davis,
Davis, 2009
2009
Closest
Closest Margin
Margin of
of Victory
Victory
0.244-second,
0.244-second, David
David Farmer
Farmer over
over Peter
Peter
Cunningham,
Cunningham, 2002
2002
20
Touring
Touring Car
Car
**- New
New lap
lap records
records will
will be
be set
set in
in 2010
2010
Qualifying
Qualifying Lap*
Lap*
1:29.688
1:29.688 (98.702
(98.702 mph)
mph)
Peter
Peter Cunningham,
Cunningham, Nissan
Nissan Sentra,
Sentra, 2004
2004
Race
Race Lap*
Lap*
1:29.684
1:29.684 (98.706
(98.706 mph)
mph)
Charles
Charles Espenlaub,
Espenlaub, MAZDA6,
MAZDA6, 2005
2005
Average
Average Speed
Speed
96.410
96.410 mph,
mph, Michael
Michael Galati
Galati 2008
2008
Closest
Closest Margin
Margin of
of Victory
Victory
0.219-second,
0.219-second, Adam
Adam Pecorari
Pecorari over
over Chip
Chip
Herr,
Herr, 2007
2007
What
What
World Grand Prix
Camping
NAME
World Challenge Grand Prix of
Where
Watkins Glen presented by
Sunoco
TRACK
Watkins Glen Interntaional
The Circuits
Where
When
Watkins
Glen International
DATE
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
Track Specs
When
TURNS
July
3-5, 2010
MILES
Track
Specs
Defending
Champions
11-turn
road course
GT 3.4
TC- miles
Defending
Champions
Media Credentials
Contact
GT- Randy Pobst (Porsche)
TC- Michael Galati (Mazda)
Office Address
Media
Credentials Contact
Track
www.TheGlen.com/pressroom
Address
Deadline: June 11
General Manager
Track Address
Marketing
Watkins Glen International
P.O. Box 500
2790 County Route 16
Watkin’s Glen, N.Y. 14891
Directions (Watkins Glen):
From Franklin Street in the village, go south on
Rte. 414 to the traffic light at the top of the hill
and turn right onto Rte. 16. Go approximately 2.25
miles to the track on your left.
Media Center:
Infield side of the track between the garage area
and pit row.
Eiron Smith
[email protected]
607-535-2486 ext.354
607-535-8918 fax
President
Michael Printup
General Manager
Tim Coleman
Marketing
Paul Hemingway
Track Web site:
www.theglen.com
GT
Qualifying Lap
1:53.998
1:22.256 (107.370
(107.620 mph)
Andy
Leighton
Pilgrim,
Reese,
Cadillac
Chevrolet
CTS-V,
Corvette,
2007 2005
Race Lap
1:55.167
1:24.194 (106.280
(105.142 mph)
Randy
Eric Curran,
Pobst,Chevrolet
Porsche 911
Corvette,
GT3, 2007
2008
Average Speed
104.877
103.485 mph, Dino
JasonCrescentini,
Daskalos over
2009
Brandon
Davis, 2009
Closest
0.255-second,
Margin ofDino
Victory
Crescentini over Eric
0.244-second,
Curran, 2009
Cunningham, 2002
Touring Car
Qualifying Lap*
2:02.730
1:29.688 (99.731
(98.702 mph)
Randy
Peter Cunningham,
Pobst, MazdaNissan
6, 2007
Sentra, 2004
Race Lap*
2:05.026
1:29.684 (97.899
(98.706 mph)
Randy
CharlesPobst,
Espenlaub,
MazdaMAZDA6,
6, 2007 2005
Average Speed
96.406
96.410 mph, Randy
MichaelPobst,
Galati2007
2008
0.222-second,
0.219-second, Lance
Adam Stewart
Pecorari over
over Pierre
Chip
Herr, 2007 1998.
Kleinubing,
21
What
Honda Indy Toronto
Toronto
Where
Exhibition Place
Toronto, Ont. (Canada)
The Circuits
When
July 16-18, 2010
Track Specs
11-turn Temporary Circuit
1.755 miles
GT- Randy Pobst (Porsche)
TC- Peter Cunningham (Acura)
Directions:
Take 427 South. Follow 427 South to Queen
Elizabeth Way Toronto (QEW Toronto) to Lake
Shore Blvd. East directly to Exhibition Place
Media Center:
Allstream Centre, Exhibition Place
(Turn 1 driver’s right)
Tip Nunn
[email protected]
office: 303.526.0994
fax:
866.448.5644
cell:
720.318.6796
Track Web site:
www.grandprixtoronto.com
Tip Nunn
[email protected]
office:303-526-0994
fax: 866-448-5644
cell: 720-318-6796
Office Address
Honda Indy Toronto
171 East Liberty Street, Ste. 253
Toronto, ON M6K 3P6
Telephone: 416-588-7223
Fax: 416-588-4306
Track Address
Exhibition Place
100 Princes’ Blvd.
General Manager
Charlie Johnstone
GT
Qualifying Lap
1:15.261 (83.947 mph)
Randy Pobst, Porsche 911 GT3, 2007
Race Lap
Not Available due to Equipment Issue
Average Speed
68.785 mph, Randy Pobst, 2007
3.495 seconds, Randy Pobst over Ron
Fellows, 2007
22
Touring Car
Qualifying Lap*
1:20.601 (78.386 mph)
Kuno Wittmer, Acura RSX, 2007
Race Lap*
1:22.435 (76.642 mph)
Seth Thomas, BMW 325i, 2007
Average Speed
65.191 mph, Peter Cunningham, 2007
0.538-second, Peter Cunningham over Ian
Bass, 2007
What
What
The
NAME
Honda Indy 200
World Challenge Sports Car
Where
Challenge presented by Optima
TRACK
Batteries
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
23
The Circuits
When
Where
DATE
Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course
Lexington, Ohio
Track Specs
TURNS
When
MILES7-9, 2010
Aug.
Defending
Champions
Track
Specs
GT 13-turn
road course
TC 2.258
miles
Media Credentials
Contact
Defending
Champions
GT- Brandon Davis (Ford)
TC- Jason Saini (Mazda)
Office Address
Media
Credentials Contact
Address
Track
Jesse
Ghiorzi
TrueSports, Inc.
General
Manager
545 Metro
Pl South Ste. 400
Dublin, Ohio 43017
Marketing
614-793-4620
614-793-4621 (fax)
Deadline: July 26
Track Address
7721 Steam Corners Road
Lexington, Ohio 44904
419-884-4000
Directions (From Columbus):
I-71 N to Rte. 95 E. Rte. 95 two miles to Rte. 314
N for 15 miles. Right on Steam Corners Road.
Track one mile on left.
President
Michelle Trueman Gajoch
Event Operations
Mary Wier
Media Center:
Second floor of Goodyear Tower.
419-884-4000 ext. 3032
419-884-3826 fax
Jesse Ghiorzi
[email protected]
614-793-4620
614-793-4621 fax
Track Web site:
www.midohio.com
World
World Challenge
Challenge Records
Records
GT
GT
Qualifying
Qualifying Lap
Lap
1:22.256
1:25.624 (107.620
(94.936 mph)
mph)
Leighton
Eric Curran,
Reese,
Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Corvette,
Corvette,
2007
2005
Race
Race Lap
Lap
1:24.194
1:27.417 (105.142
(92.988 mph)
mph)
Eric
Michael
Curran,
Galati,
Chevrolet
PorscheCorvette,
911 GT3,2008
2007
Average
Average Speed
Speed
103.485
92.354 mph,
mph,Eric
Jason
Curran,
Daskalos
2007over Brandon
Davis, 2009
Closest
0.249-second,
Margin ofMichael
VictoryGalati over Randy
0.244-second,
Pobst, 2004
Cunningham, 2002
Touring
Touring Car
Car
**- New
New lap
lap records
records will
will be
be set
set in
in 2010
2010
Qualifying
Qualifying Lap*
Lap*
1:29.688
1:32.846 (98.702
(87.551 mph)
mph)
Peter
Jeff Altenburg,
Cunningham,
MAZDA6,
Nissan2007
Sentra, 2004
Race Lap*
Race
Lap*
1:29.684
1:32.946 (98.706
(87.457 mph)
mph)
Charles
Joey Hand,
Espenlaub,
BMW 325i,
MAZDA6,
2007 2005
Average
Average Speed
Speed
96.410
86.222 mph,
mph, Michael
Joey Hand,
Galati
2007
2008
Closest
Closest Margin
Margin of
of Victory
Victory
0.219-second,
0.485-second, Adam
Hugh Plumb
Pecorariover
overMichael
Chip
Herr,
Galati,2007
1998
23
What
Toyo Tires World Challenge VIR
Grand Prix presented by RaceKeeper
VIRginia Int’l Raceway
Where
VIRginia International Raceway
Alton, Va.
The Circuits
When
Sept. 10-12, 2010
Track Specs
17-turn Road Course
3.27 miles
Directions (Raleigh/Durham):
Take US 70 Bypass West to I-85 South. Turn
right onto US 501 Bypass North, becomes US
501. Stay on US 501 to Roxboro, approx. 27
miles. Turn left onto Court St. in Roxboro. Turn
right onto NC-57, 17 miles. Turn right onto
Race Track Rd. VIR is one mile on the left.
Defending Champions
GT: John Young (Saleen, 2002)
TC: Kuno Wittmer (Acura, 2008)
TBD
Media Center:
North Paddock Timing Tower
Track Address
1245 Pine Tree Road
Alton, VA 24520
434-822-7700
434-822-8033 (fax)
TBD
General Manager
Josh Lief
Track Web site:
www.virclub.com
GT
Qualifying Lap
2:01.295 (97.052 mph)
Randy Pobst, Porsche 911 GT3, 2002
Race Lap
2:01.253 (97.246 mph)
John Young, Saleen SR, 2002
Average Speed
89.222 mph, John Young, 2002
0.448-second, John Young over Randy Pobst,
2002
24
Touring Car
Qualifying Lap*
2:05.650 (93.688 mph)
Chip Herr, MAZDA6, 2008
Race Lap*
2:06.646 (92.952 mph)
Seth Thomas, BMW 325i, 2008
Average Speed
91.725 mph, Kuno Wittmer, 2008
0.090-second, Kuno Wittmer over Seth
Thomas, 2008
What
Toyo Tires World Challenge
Utah Grand Prix presented by
Bondurant
Where
Tooele, Utah
The Circuits
When
Oct. 1-3, 2010
Track Specs
15-turn road course
3.048 mles
GT: Tommy Archer (Dodge)
TC: Jason Saini (Mazda)
Apply online at www.millermotorsportspark.com/media
Office Address
2901 N. Sheep Lane
Tooele, UT 84047
435-277-8000
435-277-8008 (fax)
Directions (Salt Lake City):
25 minutes from Salt Lake City Int’l Airport
I-80 W to Hwy 36, right on Hwy 138 and left on
Sheep Ln.
Media Center:
2nd floor of GP Building
John Gardner
Media Manager
435-277-8101
[email protected]
Track Address
Same as office address
Senior Vice President/General
Manager
John Larson
Track Web site:
www.millermotorsportspark.com
GT
Qualifying Lap
1:56.380 (94.284 mph)
Tommy Archer, Dodge Viper, 2008
Race Lap
1:57.628 (93.284 mph)
Jeff Courtney, Dodge Viper, 2008
Average Speed
92.160 mph, Tommy Archer, 2008
1.148 seconds, Tommy Archer over Brandon
Davis, 2008
Touring Car
Qualifying Lap*
2:06.178 (86.964 mph)
Jason Saini, MAZDA6, 2008
Race Lap*
2:06.156 (86.978 mph)
Jason Saini, MAZDA6, 2008
Average Speed
82.864 mph, Jason Saini, 2008
1.402 seconds, Jason Saini over Pierre
Kleinubing, 2008
25
Notes
26
World Challenge Series Facts
Purpose: The purpose of the World Challenge Championships is to provide teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a competitive production-based race series in which to
prove their products.
Race Length: There is a 50-minute maximum time limit for every race, with the number of
laps and total distance being determined by track configuration, lap times and race conditions.
The Series
Homologation of Vehicles: In addition to the general series rules that apply to all homologated vehicles, each vehicle model that is homologated into the World Challenge Series has
a set of specifications assigned to it on a Vehicle Technical Specification sheet (VTS) in order
to give equivalent overall performance capabilities to a wide range of vehicles. Adjustments
to a vehicle’s VTS sheet will be made until a competitive package is developed. Vehicles may
be submitted for homologation up to a year before it goes on general sale to the public, and
until that particular body style goes out of production throughout the world.
Eligibility: Cars that have been homologated for competition in the World Challenge Series
are eligible for a full-year of competition from the time it is homologated, until that particular
body style has been out of production throughout the world for four (4) years. After a body
style has been out of production for four (4) years, it may continue to compete in no more
than five (5) races total with a single driver, for an additional three (3) years.
Competition Adjustments: In order to keep the competition close within the World
Challenge series, competition adjustments will be made to a vehicle model when deemed
necessary. Competition adjustments will primarily be done through adjustments to the base
weight, the engine speed limit and/or the required restrictor size.
R.E.W.A.R.D.S. System: Rewarding of Equalizing Weight Assigned to Reduce Driver
Sensitivity, referred to as “REWARDS Weight,” is a weight equalization system based on the
addition and subtraction of ballast weight based on the finishing position of individual drivers in the previous race(s). The goal of the REWARDS System is to provide close on-track
competition between a diverse variety of cars in the top third of the field. REWARDS System
weight adjustments are in effect for the next race in which a driver competes in the same
class. The maximum additional weight is 200 lbs. in GT and GTS and 150 lbs. in Touring Car.
Weight adjustments (in pounds) are as follows:
GT and GTS
1st
+50
2nd
+30
3rd
+10
4th – 5th
0
6th
-10
7th
-30
8th+
-50
7th
-20
8th+
-35
TOURING CAR
1st
+35
2nd
+20
3rd
+5
4th – 5th
0
6th
-5
Team Compensation System: Car/driver finishing outside the top 50 percent of finishing
positions, may remove 50 lbs. each time until a maximum of -100 lbs. off Appendix A base
weight is reached, or the car/driver combination finishes within the top 50 percent of finishing positions. When a car/driver combination finishes within the top 50 percent of finishing
positions, 50 lbs. shall be added back on each time until the car/driver combo reaches the
Appendix A base weight. A car/driver combo is not eligible to remove weight, or required to
add it back on, unless it is classified as a finisher. If a driver finishes within the top three
finishing positions after removing weight for finishing outside of the top 50 percent of finish28
ing positions, he shall return to Appendix A base weight, AND carry the weight required under
the “REWARDS” system for a top three finish. Additionally, drivers required to carry weight
under the “REWARDS” system may only remove weight in accordance with the “REWARDS”
schedule. Once the driver is no longer required to carry “REWARDS” weight, he may remove
compensation weight if he finishes outside of the top 50 percent of finishing positions at the
next race.
Manufacturers’ Championship Points: Only those car manufacturers that are corporate
members are eligible to receive points toward the Manufacturers’ Championship. Points are
awarded to a manufacturer based on its highest finishing position in each class. Points are
disbursed as follows: 1st, 9 pts; 2nd, 7; 3rd, 5; 4th, 3; 5th, 2; 6th, 1. One point is also
awarded to the pole position-winning manufacturer.
In addition to the base point system, five points will be awarded to any driver who leads a
lap in each class and five points to the driver who leads the most laps in each class per race.
In case of a tie, the driver with the highest finishing position will be awarded the points. In
qualifying, a maximum of five points may be earned. The qualifying breakdown is as follows:
1st, 15 pts.; 2nd, 12; 3rd, 9; 4th, 6; 5th, 3.
Rookie of the Year: The GT, GTS and Touring Car Championships will recognize the Rookie
driver scoring the most points as its Rookie of the Year. A rookie is someone who has started
no more than three races in a given season or five in his/her career and has not won a race.
Additionally, drivers with significant experience in other forms of racing at an equal level of
World Challenge are not eligible for rookie status, despite how few races they may have run
in the series.
Jim Cook Memorial Trophy: An annual award honoring the memory of James Edwin Cook
(1939-1985) is presented at season’s end to an entrant/driver who has made significant
contributions to the overall success of the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Championships
through promotional activities and a consistent display of good character and sportsmanship. The award was started during the Endurance Championship era. Previous winners
were Tommy Morrison (1985), Rick Hurst (1986), Dave Wolin (1987), Steve Saleen (1988),
Tommy Archer (1989), Doc Bundy, Scott Lagasse and Lotus USA (1990), Lotus USA
(1991), Doug Rippie/Dieline (1992), Chris Neville (1993), Kermit Upton III (1994), David
Rosenblum (1995), Saleen/Allen Racing (1996), RealTime Racing (1997), DC Sports (1998),
Turner Motorsport (1999), Team Tech Racing/Scott Bove (2000), Phil McClure (2001), Rod
Bymaster/Audi (2002), Jim Osborn (2003), Tim Wiens (2004), Jon Groom (2005), Dave
Spitzer, Team Cadillac (2006), World Challenge paddock (2007), Bob Woodhouse (2008),
Andy Pilgrim (2009).
Zimmermann Cup: An annual award presented in the memory of multi-time Championship
winning crew chief Jerome Zimmermann (1967-2003) at season’s end to the crew chief
that best exemplifies the similar passion, dedication and success Zimmermann had in the
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. Past winners include: Dax Raub/3R-Racing (2003), Jason
Marks/Bimmerworld (2004), Tivadar Heinlein/Jon Groom Racing (2005), Louis Gigliotti Jr./
LG Motorsports (2006), Nathan Bonneau/RealTime Racing (2007), Chris Tindol, Tindol
Motorsports (2008), Chris Willes/ACS Express Racing (2009)
29
The Series
Drivers’ Championship Points: A Drivers’ Champion will be named in each class. Points
are awarded to the drivers based on their finishing position in each class. The points for all
races are awarded as follows: 1st, 110 pts.; 2nd, 100; 3rd, 92; 4th, 85; 5th, 80; 6th, 76;
7th, 72; 8th, 68; 9th, 64; 10th, 60; 11th, 57; 12th, 54; 13th, 51; 14th, 48; 15th, 45; 16th,
43; 17th, 41; 18th, 39; 19th, 37; 20th, 35; 21st, 33; 22nd, 31; 23rd, 29; 24th, 27; 25th,
25; 26th, 23; 27th, 21; 28th, 19; 29th, 17; 30th, 15; 31st, 13; 32nd, 11; 33rd, 9; 34th, 7;
35th, 6; 36th, 5; 37th, 4; 38th, 3; 39th, 2; 40th, 1.
World Challenge Car Facts
Classes
Grand Touring (GT): The allowed body styles within this class are coupe, sedan and convertible. The cars permitted in GT are typically sold in the market as “sports” cars, “sporttouring” cars, or performance versions of “luxury” cars. Forced induction is permitted on
cars that come equipped with forced induction stock, or on cars that SCCA Pro Racing has
determined need help reaching the target horsepower range. Power output ranges from 425525 hp. Weight varies depending on power output and tire size. All of the vehicles in GT are
rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The Series
Grand Touring Sport (GTS): Includes many cars eligible for the GT class, but at a preparation level much closer to that of a stock vehicle. Additionally, many FIA GT4 class cars are
eligible as well as cars built to the 2008/2009-spec Touring Car regulations.
Touring Car (TC): The allowed body styles in this class are coupes, hatchbacks, wagons
or sedans. The cars permitted in TC are typically sold as “compact” cars, or “touring” cars.
Eligible cars must have realistic seating for four (4) adults. Power output ranges from 180
to 200 hp. Weight varies depending on the power output of the individual drivetrain configurations. Front-wheel, rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations are permitted. Forced
induction may be allowed on cars that have forced induction systems available from the
manufacturer which do not void the factory warranties.
Bodywork Modifications
Bodywork Modifications: Stock body panels may be lightened. Body panels must maintain
stock profile, unless alternate panel is approved. Non-essential trim may be removed.
GT: Hood, trunk/decklid and doors may be aftermarket composite components. Vented
hoods are approved on a car-by-car basis. Additional aftermarket composite components
may be approved if deemed necessary to make a competitive package. Front splitter may
protrude 2” from approved front fascia, but may be no wider than the tires at their widest
point. Splitter may deviate vertically on the sides and bottom. Each car is permitted to run
an approved rear wing.
GTS: Body panels are generally stock. Aftermarket wings are permitted.
TC: Body panels are generally stock. Only OEM wings and splitters are permitted.
Chassis Modifications
Chassis Modifications: Interior may be removed except dashboard. Miscellaneous unused
mounting brackets may be removed. Chassis seams may be welded. Doors must be capable
of being opened from inside and outside. Driver’s seat may be moved rearward as long as
the seat back at the driver’s shoulders does not pass the vertical plane of the rear seat shelf.
Windshield wipers may be removed, but an operational motor must remain in place.
GT: Windows may be replaced with Lexan.
Safety Modifications
A full rollcage must be used. The rollcages typically have eight main attachment points within
the cockpit/trunk. The A-pillar, B-pillar, and roof may be stitch welded to the rollcage. Fuel
cells are required, unless stock fuel tank is located between frame rails and the axles.
The driver’s safety equipment includes a racing seat, six or seven-point harness, full-face
30
helmet, head/neck restraint, window net, right-side head restraint net, side impact protection, driver leg support system, multi-layer suit, fire resistant shoes, gloves and underwear
and a three-zone fire system.
Engine Modifications
Engines may be blueprinted and balanced. Full-prep engines may replace reciprocating
internals. Custom intake manifolds may be allowed if deemed necessary. Engine management systems are free. Ignition system components may be replaced. Must maintain an
operational on-board starter.
GT: Dry sump systems are permitted. Forced induction is permitted and may be added to a
car if deemed necessary to be a competitive package. Noise limit is 120 dBA. Traction control,
and other commonly available electronic driver aids, are permitted.
GTS: Noise limit is 110 dBa. Only electronic driver aids installed from the factory are permitted.
Drivetrain Modifications
Transmission and differential coolers may be added. Limited-slip differentials are permitted.
GT: Clutch and flywheel design are free, but starter ring gear diameter must be stock.
Driveshafts and halfshafts may be modified or replaced, but must be same material and type
as OEM. Two sets of gear ratios are permitted. Sequential transmissions are permitted on
most vehicles.
Suspension Modifications
The OEM-type of suspension must be retained (i.e. McPherson Strut, double A-arm, etc.).
Alternate control arms may be submitted for approval. Shocks and springs are free, but must
remain in stock location. Anti-sway bars are free. Bushings are free. Steering geometry may
be modified to correct bump steer.
GT: The suspension pick-up points below the top of the tire may be relocated 25mm, and
the suspension pick-up points above the tire may be relocated 75mm.
Brake System Modifications
GT: OEM brake systems may be replaced with racing components. The maximum rotor size
in GT is 380 mm x 30 mm minimum thickness front and 25 mm minimum thickness rear. The
OEM caliper, any 4-piston caliper, or approved 6-piston calipers may be used. Water may be
injected into the brake ducts. ABS is permitted. Carbon and Ceramic rotors are not permitted
unless stock OEM components are being used.
GTS: Brake pads, fluid, proportioning valves and lines are unrestricted. ABS may be removed
or deactivated. Some vehicles may be permitted aftermarket calipers or rotors.
TC: Brake pads, fluid, proportioning valves and lines are unrestricted. ABS may be removed
or deactivated. Some vehicles may be permitted aftermarket calipers or rotors.
Wheels
Wheel offset is free, provided the approved bodywork covers the portion of the tire that
contacts the track.
31
The Series
TC: Noise limit is 110 dBA. Only electronic driver aids installed from the factory are permitted.
GT: The wheel diameter used in the GT class is 18”. The maximum wheel width range from
9.5”-13” based on the tire size(s) permitted on each car. Magnesium wheels are permitted.
GTS: Wheel diameters range from 17” to 19”, widths from 8” to 11”.
TC: The wheel diameter used in the TC class is 17”. The maximum wheel width is 8”.
Tires
The Series
Tires are the Toyo™ Proxes® R888™ DOT-approved tire, in widths ranging from 235mm to
335mm.
32
World Challenge - History
33
The Series
In 1972, the Sports Car Club of America formed a new club racing class for absolutely
stock street automobiles. The class was called “showroom stock,” and the original rules
imposed a price ceiling on the cars of $3,000–pennies in comparison to today’s racing
budgets. From those humble origins, showroom stock racing grew in popularity over time,
manufacturer interest, cost and number of participants.
On the first day of summer, 1980, a 24-hour showroom stock race was staged at Nelson
Ledges Road Course near Youngstown, Ohio. The success of the Nelson Ledges “Longest
Day” and the amazing response to a second such event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
in August, 1984, prompted the SCCA to combine several existing endurance races into a
manufacturers’ series for 1984.
This new series was expanded into a six-race professional showroom stock endurance
racing series for 1985. The 1985 series was billed as the Playboy United States Endurance
Cup, with Playboy Magazine its title sponsor. There were four classes in 1985 (GT, A, B and
C) with a per-race purse of $20,000 and year-end bonus of $60,000.
A number of changes were made in 1986, as Escort replaced Playboy as the sponsor and
the class structure was altered. A new class was introduced–Super Sports (SS) and the B
and C classes were combined. The per-race purses jumped to $28,000 and the year-end
points fund was increased to $80,000–split among the four classes. Once again, six races
were held, including two 24-hour events.
The series continued to grow in 1987, as the number of races jumped to eight and the
per-race purse was upped to $36,000. The class structure remained intact and Escort was
retained as the series’ title sponsor.
In 1988 and 1989, the SS class was eliminated, thus making the GT cars the premier
class with the A and B classes remaining unchanged.
A dramatic off-season followed the 1989 Escort Endurance Championship, in which the
series was completely restructured and renamed. For 1990, the Escort World Challenge
Championship was born.
The new series featured cars homologated by manufacturers. The rules were along
the same lines as the European Group A specifications, rather than the showroom stock
configuration of the series from 1985 through 1989.
The 1990 Escort World Challenge featured two classes of competition following the
restructuring. The top class, World Challenge, showcased high-performance sports cars
like the Chevrolet Corvette and Lotus Esprit Turbo.
The second class, Super Production, was for lower-horsepower sports cars including the
Honda CRX, Eagle Talon and new Mazda Miata.
There was concern of whether or not anyone could compete with the Corvettes, which
moved over from the Corvette Challenge to World Challenge. Doc Bundy and Scott Lagasse
put those ideas to rest, winning the inaugural World Challenge race for Lotus–a three
hour event at Sears Point. Bundy would win twice more on the season, but a poor finish at
Dallas allowed R.K. Smith to win the Championship in a Powell Motorsport Corvette on the
strength of three solo wins.
In Super Production, Bobby Archer’s HKS Performance Eagle Talon waged a season-long
battle with the American Honda Honda CRX Si of Peter Cunningham. In the end, Archer drove
to victory in the season-ending St. Petersburg round to take the Drivers’ Championship
and clinch the Manufacturers’ title for Eagle.
In 1991, a third class, Super Sport, was included for Camaros and club-configured
Mustangs. Shawn Hendricks had a banner year in his Bakeracing Corvette, taking the
World Challenge title with top-five finishes in all eight races and two wins. Actor Bobby
Carradine was second in a Lotusport Lotus Esprit, followed by Andy Pilgrim’s Goodyear
Corvette. Lou Gigliotti took his first Drivers’ Championship in Super Sports, winning three
of the six races in his Young Chevrolet Camaro. Mitch Wright earned the Archer Brothers
The Series
and Eagle their second-straight respective titles in Super Production, winning two races
en route to topping Norris Rancourt’s Carmichael Honda CRX Si by six points.
In 1992, the series underwent another major facelift. One more class was created,
and the classes were renamed A, B, C and D, with some cars re-classified to meet market
needs. Endurance Races were a thing of the past beginning in 1992. All races became
one-hour sprints.
Lotusport disappeared prior to the 1992 season, leaving Corvette to dominate the
season. Smith took his second Drivers’ Championship in a Dieline Corp. Corvette over
Kim Baker and teammate Bill Cooper. Gigliotti again took the B class in his Pace America
Camaro over the Metalcraft Mazda RX-7 Turbo of Makoto Yamamura. Dave Jolly won his
first World Challenge Championship in the C Class in a Metalcraft Oldsmobile Achieva.
While Honda missed the Drivers’ Championship again, it took the Manufacturers’ title
off the strength of Taz Harvey’s second place. Neil Hannemann won the new D Class
Championship in the HighwayMaster Eagle Talon over teammate Bill Saunders.
In 1993, the D class disappeared as the Eagles grew turbos and moved into the B
class with the BMW M3. Racing legend Elliott Forbes-Robinson broke the Corvette streak,
piloting the Dal Tech Nissan 300 ZX Turbo to five wins and a 13-point win over Smith’s
Dieline Corvette and Boris Said’s BluBlocker Saleen Mustang.
Gigliotti’s two season-ending wins in the B class weren’t enough to overcome Willy
Lewis’ Archer Brothers Eagle Talon T. Ron Emmick and Cunningham battled all season long
in the C Class, with Emmick’s Metalcraft Oldsmobile edging Cunningham’s Autotechnica/
Red Line Oil Honda Prelude by three points. Honda again took the manufacturers’ title.
Classes were renamed again in 1994 to World Challenge, Touring Car and Super
Production. Porsche returned as a major player with Kelly Moss Racing. Price Cobb topped
teammate Mauro Baldi after winning the final three races of the season. Cobb’s title
propelled him to the worldwide Porsche Cup–becoming the first driver to do so.
Hannemann won his second Drivers’ Championship in three years–this time in Touring
Car, scoring two wins in his Archer Brothers Eagle Talon to best Gigliotti’s Camaro by seven
points. Jolly again took the Super Production Drivers’ Championship away from Cunningham’s
Prelude, but Honda again took the Manufacturers’ Championship over Oldsmobile.
The World Challenge class was again renamed in 1995, to Sport, but little changed, as
Porsche battled Corvette for supremacy. David Murry piloted his Rohr Motorsport Porsche
911 GT2 to five wins in eight races to top John Heinricy’s Morrison Corvette 432 to 369.
Hannemann took his second-straight Touring Car Championship by a single point (389
to 388) over Archer Brothers Racing teammate Lewis as Eagle topped Chevrolet for the
Manufacturers’ title. After finishing runner-up three times, Cunningham took the Super
Production Class Championship in his RealTime Racing Honda Prelude over Paul Booher’s
ICY Racing Saturn, giving Honda its fourth-straight Manufacturers’ Championship.
World Challenge was split into two categories, Sports and Touring, in 1996, each broken
into two classes, designated S1, S2, T1 and T2.
With the S1 class not arriving until late in the season, the S2 class featured the fastest
World Challenge cars ever. Loosely based on the European FIA GT2 rules, the cars ran on
slick tires for the first time; and, while fields were small, provided exciting racing. Almo
Coppelli’s Callaway Corvette edged Shane Lewis’ radical Mosler Intruder by two points.
The top four manufacturers were within two points, with Saleen winning a tiebreaker with
Porsche to take the title over Callaway and Mosler. Martin Snow took the three-race S1
Championship in his Porsche 911 Turbo.
Gigliotti returned to championship form in 1996, taking the T1 title in his LG Saleen
Mustang, winning two races. Lewis’ Talon and Kermit Upton’s BMW completed the
top-three, with Eagle taking Manufacturers’ honors in a tiebreaker over Ford/Saleen.
Rookie Michael Galati won the second-straight T2 Drivers’ Championship for RealTime
Racing’s Honda Prelude by two points over Taz Harvey’s Prelude and Alain Chebeir’s BMW.
Honda captured its fifth-straight World Challenge Manufacturers’ Championship.
34
35
The Series
High costs eliminated the Sports Category in 1997, and the T1 Championship shaped
up as a battle of American muscle versus high-revving Japanese technology. Cunningham
earned his second World Challenge Drivers’ Championship in T1, driving to four victories
in his RealTime Racing Acura NSX, despite missing one race. Gigliotti’s Saleen Mustang
was second, with two wins, followed by the similar car of Rob Fellows. Ford/Saleen’s strong
presence rewarded it with the Manufacturers’ Championship.
RealTime Racing introduced the Acura Integra Type R to T2 in 1997, with rookie Pierre
Kleinubing earning the Drivers’ Championship over Booher’s Saturn and teammate Galati.
Points for Acura and Honda were split in 1997, allowing Saturn to take the Manufacturers’
Championship for the first time.
Saleen returned to the 1998 T1 Championship, sweeping the top two spots in the Drivers’
Championship with Terry Borcheller and Ron Johnson over Cunningham’s RealTime NSX.
The specialty car builder also dominated the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Galati used consistency in his RealTime Acura Integra R to take his second T2
Championship–the fourth-straight for the team–over teammate Kleinubing and Lance
Stewart’s DC Sports Integra R. Acura earned the Manufacturers’ Championship, the sixth
for American Honda.
The off-season between 1998 and 1999 proved to be the most pivotal for the World
Challenge up to that point, as the Speedvision Network–a cable broadcasting station
dedicated to the fastest things in the air, water and the road–became a part owner in the
series and its title sponsor. Exposure and purses grew exponentially, as did the fields. The
1999 season would average nearly 50 cars per race between the two classes.
Archer drove a Viper Speed Dodge Viper to his second-career Championship, winning
the Speedvision GT title by a scant point over Peter Kitchak’s Porsche 911. Porsche took
the Manufacturers’ title over Chevrolet, which featured the debut of its new C5, with Scotty
B. White giving the car its first win (Vancouver). Archer earned a $50,000 bonus for his
Championship–the biggest ever in SCCA Pro Racing history.
Galati branched out to form his own Speedvision Touring Car Acura team in 1999, but
the results were the same, taking the title by three points over RealTime’s Kleinubing and
his teammate Hugh Plumb. Galati tied the all-time record for consecutive wins at the start
of the season (four). Acura again took the Manufacturers’ Championship.
In 2000, both series ran separately for the first time and standing starts made their
debut. The season saw giant jumps in participation, averaging over 70 cars per event
between the two series.
Jeff McMillin became the first driver ever to win a title without a win when he scored
top-10 finishes in all 10 Speedvision GT races. He became only the third driver ever
(joining Galati and Plumb from 1999) to record 10 top-10s in a season. Galati jumped to
the Champion Audi GT team in 2000 and finished second, recording the marque’s first
win in World Challenge at Las Vegas. In all, six different drivers and marques won on the
season.
Kleinubing captured his second title by winning the Speedvision Touring Car
Championship for RealTime over rookie Neal Sapp (TC Kline Racing BMW 328Ci). Acura
took the manufacturers’ title, but fought BMW into the last race.
In 2001, new changes included a new spec tire from Toyo Tires (the non-race T1S), and
boosted purses across the board due to various new sponsorships.
Michael Galati became the first driver to win four World Challenge Drivers’
Championships, taking the Speedvision GT title with four wins and helping Audi to its
first-ever Manufacturers’ Championship. Galati battled his former team owner Peter
Cunningham all the way. Cunningham won the statistics race, recording seven poles and
five wins in his supercharged Acura NSX, but a DNF at Lime Rock hurt his title chances.
Galati became the second-straight Speedvision GT driver to place in the top-10 in each
race, and he and Cunningham each eclipsed the $100,000 mark in purse and contingency
prize money earned for the first time in series history. Audi took the Manufacturers’ title
The Series
by a scant point over Acura, with Porsche a close third. Johannes van Overbeek (Porsche,
third in points) was the only driver other than Galati or Cunningham to win a race.
Pierre Kleinubing captured his second-straight Speedvision Touring Car title and the
third of his career (all with RealTime) with a consistent run, earning three wins in his Acura
Integra R. Neal Sapp won four races, and finished runner-up for the second straight year
and helped BMW earn its first-ever Manufacturers’ title in a runaway over Acura. Other
drivers scoring wins in Touring Car were Steve Pfeffer (BMW), Bill Auberlen (BMW) in a run
from last to first in the Lime Rock rain and Roger Foo, recording the first win for the Honda
Civic Si.
In 2002, SPEED Channel took over for Speedvision as the title sponsor after Speedvision
was bought by Fox and renamed. The series names changed to SCCA SPEED World
Challenge, SCCA SPEED GT and SCCA SPEED Touring Car, respectively.
Michael Galati continued to set new records by capturing his fifth Drivers’ Championship,
and second-straight SPEED GT Championship. The Championship once again came down
to Galati and Cunningham, with Galati scoring three wins and finishing no lower than sixth
in all ten races. Cunningham took the Championship down to the final event at VIR, but his
exceptional run of finishes, including one win, five podiums and ten top-10 finishes was
no match for Galati. Randy Pobst finished third in the Championship with four wins and
a podium finish in each of the seven events he entered. Based on Pobst’s dominating run,
Porsche took home another Manufacturers’ title, its third in four years.
In SPEED Touring Car, defending Champion Pierre Kleinubing faced a stout challenge
from an unlikely source, RealTime Racing team boss Cunningham. Originally running
SPEED Touring Car to help Kleinubing score a third straight title, the plan changed
mid-season when two straight 34th place finishes evaporated Kleinubing’s points lead
and moved Cunningham into contention. At season’s end, Cunningham’s consistency
gave him the title, his third World Challenge title and sixth overall in SCCA Pro Racing
competition. Rookie of the Year Marc Kirberg completed the top three in the final point
standings. Acura, by virtue of the strong runs by both RealTime pilots, brought home its
fourth Manufacturers’ Title since 1998.
In 2003, SPEED GT switched to the new Toyo Proxes RA-1™ race compound
DOT-approved tire, which helped establish new track records in both qualifying and in the
race.
In SPEED GT, it looked like Bill Auberlen was poised to win the Drivers’ Championship
with a good showing in the penultimate round of the season at Road Atlanta. He had a
20-point lead over Randy Pobst. However, on lap 13 a broken halfshaft forced Auberlen
to retire, while Pobst went on to win the race . With the win and coupled with Auberlen’s
25th place finish, Pobst catapulted into first place and held a 12-point lead heading into the
season finale in Puerto Rico. Despite a variety of scenarios, Pobst could essentially clinch
the Championship if he finished fourth or better, regardless of where Auberlen finished.
After qualifying on the pole, Pobst took matters into his own hands and won the Caribbean
shootout. With the win, Pobst not only won the Drivers’ Championship, but he also secured
the SCCA SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by Racer Magazine for Audi.
Auberlen (three wins) and Phil McClure (two wins) completed the top three in the final
standings. Other winners on the season included Mike Fitzgerald (two wins) and rookie
Paul Mumford, who was tragically killed in a plane crash shortly after his win at Laguna.
Tom Oates won Rookie of the Year.
In SCCA SPEED Touring Car, Auberlen captured the Drivers’ Championship following his
second place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with two races remaining. Auberlen
thoroughly dominated SCCA SPEED Touring Car with four wins, eight podiums, three
pole positions, set seven fast race laps and never finished below fourth place. Three-time
SPEED Touring Car Champion Pierre Kleinubing (three wins) and Auberlen’s teammate
Will Turner finished second and third, respectively in the final standings. With Auberlen’s
help, BMW won the SPEED Touring Car Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by Racer
36
37
The Series
Magazine. Other winners on the season included Bob Endicott and Peter Cunningham.
Matt Plumb won the SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year, becoming the second Plumb
brother to win the award, matching the feat of brother Hugh in 1998. Additionally, after
qualifying second four times, Shauna Marinus became the first female driver to win a
Touring Car pole position.
Thanks in part to both a highly competitive racing format and top-notch drivers, SPEED
World Challenge moved even closer to the forefront of the road racing landscape in 2004.
In it’s September issue, Car and Driver magazine called World Challenge “the best road
racing in the country,” telling its readers what World Challenge enthusiasts had known for
years.
In SPEED GT, Tommy Archer proved that winning a championship doesn’t mean winning
every race. In fact, he only won once (Portland), but it was his eight top-five finishes in
10 events that propelled him and his Dodge Viper Competition Coupe to the SCCA SPEED
GT Drivers’ Championship. The title was especially impressive considering Archer had not
competed in World Challenge since 1991. Michael Galati led all SPEED GT drivers with
three wins in 2004, driving an Audi RS 6. Those victories and five podium finishes overall
led him to a second-place finish in points, just six behind Archer. However, because of
Galati’s and teammate Randy Pobst’s (who won at Lime Rock and finished fourth in points)
efforts, it was Audi who walked away with the SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship
presented by RACER magazine. Competing in the brand new Cadillac CTS-V, Max Angelelli
won two races, including the season-opener at Sebring, and finished third in the point
standings. Rookie Wolf Henzler burst on to the scene in 2004 with two victories, and Ron
Fellows also earned a win at Mosport. Mike McCann took home Rookie of the Year honors,
beating out his brother, Jim.
Bill Auberlen flexed his championship-winning muscle once again in 2004, earning his
second-consecutive SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Championship. Auberlen didn’t waste
any time in his BMW 325i, taking both the pole and the win at the first two events of the
season, and three of the first four. Though he didn’t win another race for the remainder,
his efforts were good enough to hold off Nic Jonsson, who finished second in his BMW
325Ci. Matt Plumb picked up the first two wins of his SPEED Touring Car career and used
those, plus nine top-10 finishes, to earn third in the point standings in his Acura TSX. On
the strength of Auberlen and Jonsson’s showings, BMW handily won the SPEED Touring
Car Manufacturers’ Championship presented by RACER Magazine. A late-season push by
Acura (two wins by Pierre Kleinubing and one for Plumb after an early win), closed the gap
to 69-54. Dino Crescentini won the SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year.
Tim Wiens, owner of 3R-Racing, was presented the Jim Cook Award and Jason Marks,
of Bimmerworld, was named recipient of the Zimmermann Cup.
SPEED World Challenge ratcheted up the “wow” factor a few more levels in 2005 as both
the SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships were in
doubt until the very end of the year. That was especially the case in SPEED GT, which was
fittingly named the “most competitive road racing in the world” by RACER Magazine in its
June issue.
Those who thought Tommy Archer’s 2004 Championship run was improbable after he
won just a single race had to think Andy Pilgrim’s run to the top simply unfathomable as the
Team Cadillac driver earned his first title without recording a single win. Consistency was
once again the name of the game as Pilgrim never finished lower than 10th and finished
second twice. His efforts, along with teammates Max Angelelli, Max Papis and Ron Fellows
(who all won races), propelled Cadillac to the SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER Magazine over Porsche.
Had it been based on finishes alone, Pilgrim’s title would have gone to Archer (who won
twice to start the season), but a pair of five-point penalties (Cleveland, Infineon), forced
Archer behind Pilgrim. Farnbacher Loles Porsche driver Wolf Henzler also scored a pair
of wins (Mid-Ohio, Denver), and Lou Gigliotti broke a couple of major streaks as he won
The Series
(Infineon) for the first time since 1997 and broke a 24-race winless streak for Corvette.
Robin Liddell scored a victory at Cleveland, and Dino Crescentini broke into the winner’s
column in his very first SPEED GT race (Portland). Sonny Whelen earned SPEED GT Rookie
of the Year honors and finished 12th overall in the point standings.
After winning Championships in 2003 and ‘04, Bill Auberlen only made cameo
appearances in SPEED Touring Car 2005. He did well at the events he ran (two wins and
three podium finishes), but his downgraded role in the series opened the way for an epic,
season-long showdown between individual drivers and their teams. Peter Cunningham,
World Challenge’s most successful driver in history, earned his 29th career win to jumpstart
his and his RealTime Racing team’s season. Not to be outdone, Randy Pobst, a former
SPEED GT champion who signed on with Tri-Point Motorsport in the off-season, put Mazda
on the map with a win at St. Petersburg in Round Two. The new RealTime livery got
plenty of time in the spotlight as Pierre Kleinubing won the next three races (Road Atlanta,
Mid-Ohio, Cleveland), giving Acura a stronghold on the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Auberlen’s return and maxed-out REWARDS weight stopped Acura’s winning streak cold
as Auberlen won Rounds Six and Seven (Lime Rock, Infineon) - the last rounds he would
compete in. A first win by Eric Curran at Denver followed by another first-time winner in
Charles Espenlaub at Mosport highlighted the next two rounds and set up best-finisher
take all between Acura and Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. John Angelone stole
the show to a degree, handily winning in an Audi, but Peter Cunningham rose to the
occasion once again, finishing third (a spot in front of Pobst), which clinched the Drivers’
Championship for Cunningham and another Manufacturers’ title for Acura.
New faces and seasoned veterans combined to make 2006 a year for the SPEED World
Challenge record books. SPEED GT saw the debut of two new cars: the Aston Martin
DB9 and the right-hand drive Nissan Skyline GT-R. Both turned quite a few heads in the
paddock and the Aston Martin squad was able to notch a fifth place finish at Road America
with driver Johnny Mowlem.
New drivers were also causing a stir in SPEED GT. Rookie Lawson Aschenbach was
practically flawless in his first full-season of SPEED GT competition. Behind the wheel of
his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, he climbed the podium steps three times, including a win at St.
Petersburg, and never finished worse than ninth. Numbers like those gave veterans Lou
Gigliotti and Andy Pilgrim a run for their money and helped Aschenbach become the first
driver in SPEED GT history to win the Championship in their rookie season. Thanks to an
equally strong performance from Porsche teammate Ricardo Imery and guest appearances
by Randy Pobst, Porsche won a tight SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship by a scant
three points over Dodge.
The RealTime Acura squad was once again the team to beat in SPEED Touring Car,
but this time it was Pierre Kleinubing leading the charge. Kleinubing collected seven
podiums in 2006, including wins at Infineon and Miller Motorsports Park, on his way
to claiming his fourth SPEED Touring Car Championship. Tri-Point Mazda driver Randy
Pobst fought all the way to the finale with Kleinubing, but would fall short for the second year in a row. Show signs of a future champion, Chip Herr collected the most wins
(three: Mid-Ohio, Road America, Road Atlanta), but lacked the consistency of veterans
Pobst and Kleinubing, finishing a career-best third in points. In addition, Kleinubing’s
four poles in 2006 pushed him to the top of the career-poles list with 30. The RealTime
Acura crew posted four wins in 2006, which was enough to help Acura clinch the
Manufactures’ Championship after Round Ten at Road Atlanta.
Defending SPEED GT Champion Lawson Aschenbach returned in 2007, but traded in
his Porsche for a ride with Team Cadillac. Porsche’s efforts to defend its Manufacturers’
Championship Presented by RACER Magazine were headed instead by K-PAX Racing’s
Randy Pobst and Michael Galati. It was the Corvette of Eric Curran however, that looked
poised for a Championship run, taking the first two races with ease. But, poor luck and
several DNFs throughout the season kept Curran from capturing his first World Challenge
38
39
The Series
Championship, even with two more wins at Mid-Ohio and Mosport. Instead, it was Pobst
fighting for the Title with Aschenbach and his Cadillac teammate Andy Pilgrim. A string of
podium finishes mid-season, including wins at Watkins Glen and Toronto, gave Pobst a
comfortable margin over Pilgrim heading into the final round at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca, where he earned his second-career SPEED GT Championship by 16 points. Pilgrim
and Aschenbach’s hard work would not go unrewarded though, their efforts earned Cadillac
its second SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship.
The first two rounds of the SPEED Touring Car schedule provided some foreshadowing
for how the 2007 season would shake out. Mazda’s Jeff Altenburg won both races by small
margins over teammate Pobst, with defending Champion Pierre Kleinubing and his Acura
in third. Kleinubing would stand on the podium three more times, but was unable to score a
World Challenge victory in 2007, his first winless season in World Challenge since his 1997
debut. Altenburg and Pobst meanwhile continued to put in solid finishes. Pobst even made
history, sweeping both Touring Car races at Watkins Glen in addition to the GT win. The
duo’s stellar performances earned Mazda its first Manufacturers’ Championship a round
early at Road Atlanta. The Drivers’ Championship on the other hand, would go down to the
wire at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. While leading the race and in position to claim the
Championship, contact with Kleinubing sent Pobst into the gravel at Turn Two and handed
Altenburg his first SPEED Touring Car Championship, while Peter Cunningham took his
second win of the season.
Randy Pobst returned with K-PAX/3R in 2008 to defend his SPEED GT Drivers’
Championship and help Porsche wrestle away the Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER Magazine away from Cadillac. Their primary opponents underwent
a transformation in the off-season, becoming Team Remington Cadillac and adding
Michael McCann to partner Andy Pilgrim.
Pobst’s Championship defense got off to a great start with a win at Sebring, followed by a runner-up finish to Brandon Davis at Long Beach. Davis’ win in the ACS
Ford Mustang Cobra proved his performance in the rain at Sebring was no fluke and
launched him into title contention with Pobst and Pilgrim.
Pobst collected his second win of the season at Watkins Glen, but, as always, Pilgrim
wasn’t far behind. The Cadillac driver even collected five-straight podium finishes from
Sebring through Mid-Ohio.
Road America became a turning point for the season, as DNFs for both Pilgrim and
Davis, and a third-place finish for Pobst, allowed the defending champ to pull out a
point lead with four races remaining. Two more podium finishes and a win at Detroit in
that final stretch sealed the deal for Pobst. Though Brandon Davis won the season finale
at Road Atlanta and shared the podium with Pilgrim, Pobst’s lead heading into the final
round was too much to overcome, giving him his third World Challenge Championship.
The Manufacturers’ Championship was clinched by Porsche a round earlier at New
Jersey Motorsports Park when James Sofronas took his first-ever World Challenge victory.
The 2008 SPEED Touring Car Championship was one of the most thrilling in
series history. A podium sweep by the RealTime Acuras of Pierre Kleinubing, Peter
Cunningham and Kuno Wittmer at Sebring, was an excellent prelude of what was to
come in the 2008 season. Following Kleinubing’s win at Sebring, Wittmer took his first
World Challenge victory at VIR by inches over the BMW of Seth Thomas.
VIR was also the last race for defending champion Jeff Altenburg, who parted ways
with the Tri-Point team to pursue a SPEED GT drive. That left Charles Espenlaub, Jason
Saini, Jeff Daniels, and Tindol Motorsports drivers Michael Galati and Chip Herr to carry
the torch for Mazda, winner of the 2007 Manufacturers’ Championship presented by
RACER Magazine.
Rookie and 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion Saini put Mazda on the board first, taking an
emotional first win at Miller Motorsports Park, but Acura answered back with another
The Series
win at Lime Rock Park, at the hands of Wittmer. Herr took the second race at Lime
Rock, but at the season’s halfway point, the Championship was clearly a battle between
the three RealTime teammates.
Though there were surprise wins from James Clay at Road America and from Galati
at Watkins Glen and Mosport, not a single podium passed without at least one RealTime
driver on the steps. The team clinched the Manufacturers’ Championship for Acura at
Mosport and brought the Drivers’ Championship down to the last lap at Road Atlanta.
Wittmer was unable to make a pass for fourth stick on Cunningham, which gave the
RealTime owner his record-tying fifth World Challenge Championship.
K-Pax Racing changed from Porsche to Volvo in 2009, with Pilgrim joining Pobst to
make a two-car Volvo S60 superteam in GT. While both drivers would win races and
poles, the car was plagued with aftermarket transmission problems until the end of the
season.
After having their own developmental season, Brandon Davis was strong all season in
his ACS Racing Ford Mustang, and the young driver earned his first professional racing
Championship after winning at Mid-Ohio and finishing every GT race in the top eight.
After scoring his breakout win in 2008, James Sofronas scored a pair of victories in
California (Long Beach and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) and piloted his Global Racing
Group Porsche 911 GT3 to second in the final standings.
Newcomer Tony Rivera looked to have second locked up until a last-lap incident with
Pobst put his Brass Monkey Racing Porsche in the gravel at the MRLS finale. Rivera
surprised the racing world winning in his very first attempt at Sebring and followed that
up with a second victory at Road America.
Despite not finishing two of the 10 races, Pilgrim wound up fourth in the
Championship, taking wins at New Jersey and Road Atlanta in the Volvo S60. Eric
Curran had six podium finishes in his Whelen Engineering Corvette, but never made
the top step to finish fifth.
The two-time defending Champion Pobst ended up sixth and won at Autobahn
Country Club. However, missing the first race after exhausting his engine supply at
Sebring was costly to his effort.
Behind Sofronas and Rivera, Porsche again claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER. Bill Ziegler claimed Rookie of the Year honors in his GMG Porsche.
Pierre Kleinubing joined team owner Peter Cunningham and Michael Galati in the
rarified air of five World Challenge Championships in 2009, but it was not easy.
Kleinubing changed cars after finishing second in the Sebring opener, upgrading from
the 2008 spec RealTime Acura TSX to the 2009 model. The all-time leader in pole positions, Kleinubing worked a series of top five finishes before finally scoring his first win
in more than a year at Road America in Round Eight of the Touring Car Championship.
Despite the win, he was still behind 2008 Rookie of the Year Jason Saini, who rattled
off three wins (New Jersey, Autobahn and Mid-Ohio) in six races at one point in his
TriPoint Motorsports MAZDA6. The Championship came down to the season finale at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where Saini needed a solid run to maintain his lead.
The weekend went perfectly for Kleinubing. Not only did he earn the pole and lead
every lap, but Saini missed out on qualifying bonus points and finished a disappointing
eighth, giving Kleinubing a 13-point advantage at the end of the season.
Acura captured the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER, but it was
Mazda driver Eric Foss who captured Rookie of the Year honors.
Peter Cunningham finished third in his RealTime Acura after winning at Mosport.
Seth Thomas gave BimmerWorld its best season to date with a series-high three wins
in his BMW 328i to finish fourth. Charles Espenlaub quietly finished fifth in his TriPoint
MAZDA6.
New for the series in 2009 was a coin flip that could invert the top five. The concept
was short lived, though and was removed for the 2010 season.
40
WORLD CHALLENGE GT 2009 REVIEW
ENJOY THE RIDE
2009 Review
Brandon Davis
The 2009 World Challenge GT season was a lot like an amusement park rollercoaster. Not in the typical sense most people make
the comparison; for the ups and downs or the crazy ride. No, in
this case the World Challenge GT season was like a rollercoaster
because, standing in line, waiting to get on, you could see the dramatic climbs, whiplash inducing turns and the loop-de-loops coming. You knew what lay ahead when you strapped in, but you still
screamed the whole way. And with a big dumbfounded grin on your
face at the end, you said “let’s do it again.”
Case in point, 2009 World Challenge GT Champion Brandon
Davis. Though he was only in his second full-season of GT competition, a decade younger than the rest of the field and in a car that
struggled with reliability last year, there was no question Davis
and the No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/Sun Microsystems Ford
Mustang would be serious contenders for the Title. After all, he was
the 2005 World Challenge Touring Car Rookie of the Year and won
two GT races in 2008.
Davis wasted no time, finishing on the podium for the season opener at Sebring behind
Tony Rivera and Eric Curran.
Rivera was another surprise everyone saw coming. A proven race winner in the IMSA
Challenge GT3 Cup, Rivera had no problem hanging with Davis, Curran and Dino Crescentini
at Sebring. He brought the No. 97 Tax Masters/Brass Monkey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 a win
in its first World Challenge outing.
A month later it was onto the streets of Long Beach, where Davis was the defending
race winner. Randy Pobst claimed Volvo’s first World Challenge pole position in the No. 1
K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 and then came the first real curveball of the season – the coin toss.
Following qualifying, the polesitter would flip a coin. If he called it right, he kept the pole. If
he called it wrong, the top five would invert. There was no inversion at Sebring, but at Long
Beach, Pobst called wrong, handing the top spot to Davis’ father Mike.
Neither Mike nor Brandon Davis would take the checkered flag
at their home race, instead it was another SoCal driver, James
Sofronas, in his No. 14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3.
Like Sebring, the podium was completed by Curran and Brandon
Davis.
Another Volvo topped the qualifying times for Round Three at
New Jersey Motorsports Park, the No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 of
Andy Pilgrim. The all-wheel drive Volvos performed flawlessly on the
damp, but drying track, and Pobst followed his teammate across the
finish line for a one-two finish.
The paddock knew of K-PAX’s switch from Porsches to Volvos
before 2008 had wrapped. With the cars completed just in time
for Sebring, it wasn’t all that startling that only one car made the
starting grid at Sebring. And yet, with the engineering might of 3R
Racing working overtime, it was expected that these cars would find
James Sofronas
their way to the podium. Sure enough, it only took three rounds.
Davis scored his first pole position of the season in Round Four
at Mosport International Raceway, only to have it taken away with the flip of a coin. The
star of the show, however, was Jason Daskalos and his No. 5 Daskalos Developments Dodge
Viper, which rocketed away from the outside of the front row on the start and led every lap
en route to his first World Challenge win. A surprise win to some, but not to those who knew
just how hard Daskalos and his crew had been working since their debut in 2007.
Finishing second at Mosport, his fourth-straight podium finish, Davis was becoming the
42
43
2009 Review
king of consistency. It was the key ingredient missing in the team’s
2008 campaign.
There was one round where the team didn’t have its covered:
Watkins Glen. Davis ran in fourth for the majority of the race before
a broken throttle cable on the last lap demoted him to eighth. It was
Davis’ worst finish of the season.
World Challenge GT witnessed its third first-time winner at The
Glen, when Dino Crescentini’s No. 4 Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911
GT3 edged Curran’s No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette
for the win. Crescentini’s win was number three for Porsche on
the season and it was becoming clear that the GT Manufacturers’
Championship Presented by RACER Magazine would be a battle of
Porsche’s masses versus Ford’s young prodigy.
The series made its first visit to Autobahn Country Club, located
just outside of Chicago, for Round Five, the halfway point of the
Tony Rivera
season. Pobst made a brilliant move on the opening lap to take over
the lead early and held off the field through two restarts to take his
first win in the Volvo. Davis carefully tiptoed through the incident-filled race to finish second
ahead of Brian Kubinski, who earned his best World Challenge result on his home track.
After losing the pole in coin flips at both Mosport and Watkins Glen, Davis finally called it
right at Mid-Ohio and took up his spot on the front row of the grid. The black Mustang cruised
to the checkered flag unchallenged.
Davis had been such a continuous presence on the podium all
season, it was hard to believe that Mid-Ohio was his first win of
2009. The GT Drivers’ Championship was beginning to come into
focus.
By contrast, the battle for the Manufacturers’ Championship was
getting fuzzier. A win for the Mustang put Ford only four points
behind Porsche with three rounds to go.
That would change at Road America, where Rivera racked up
another win for Porsche and his second of the season. Crossing the
stripe more than seven seconds ahead of Curran and Crescentini,
Rivera was now Davis’ chief opponent in the Championship, as an
axel failure resulted in the worst finish of the season for Sofronas.
With only two rounds remaining, Rivera needed to keep the
momentum going at Road Atlanta for Round Nine if he wanted an
honest shot at Davis in Monterey. Unfortunately for Rivera, Davis’
Andy Pilgrim
ACS Express team brought reinforcements in, in the form of Boris
Said. Davis also caught a break on the coin toss, which moved him
from fifth to the front of the grid. He couldn’t stop the all-wheel drive launch of Pilgrim however, who rocketed into the lead and took off into the distance. Starting sixth, Rivera spent
most of his race trying to find a way around Said’s No. 3 Applied Computer Solutions Ford
Mustang Cobra. He would eventually get the job done, but not in time to catch Davis, who
finished third behind Pilgrim and Curran.
Arriving at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the finale, Davis had 62 points on Rivera and
Porsche held a nine-point advantage over Ford. Not insurmountable deficits, but still a tall
order for a single race weekend.
Qualifying could not have been crueler to Rivera. Though he qualified his Porsche in second
behind Said’s Mustang, with Davis back in fifth, the coin toss inverted the top five.
Davis was quickly dispatched by second-starting Sofronas, who sailed to his second win
of the season, sealing the Manufacturers’ Championship for Porsche. Rivera and Pobst would
also pass Davis, who was focused entirely on the Championship.
Catching Sofronas wouldn’t even be an option for Rivera, as a late race tussle with Pobst
took Rivera out of the race. Davis breezed across the finish line in fourth to claim his first
World Challenge Championship. Sofronas jumped to second in the final standings, while
Rivera dropped to third.
Sounds like it’s time to strap back in for another ride.
WORLD CHALLENGE TOURING CAR 2009 REVIEW
2009 Review
MARK IT FIVE
In retrospect, the first round of the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing
SPIt just wouldn’t be World Challenge Touring Car unless every
point available in the season finale was critical. Before Round 10
qualifying, Pierre Kleinubing was convinced the Championship
was lost. Twenty minutes later, his entire perspective shifted.
Just how, you may be wondering, did the tables turn on
the 2009 World Challenge Touring Car season? It began as
many before, under the Florida sun at Sebring for Round One. A
new year brought a new TSX for RealTime Racing, though only
defending Champion Peter Cunningham would pilot the latest
edition at the season opener. Kleinubing put the previous model
TSX on the pole, just as he had in 2008, but it would be no
cake walk to the finish like last year for Kleinubing, as a flash
of blue, more properly identified as the No. 38 BimmerWorld/
Pierre Kleinubing
GearWrench BMW 328i of Seth Thomas catapulted into the lead.
Thomas’ maiden World Challenge win came without challenge. He cruised to the finish
line ahead of Kleinubing and Saini with ease. In the intense Acura v. Mazda rivalry that
had developed over the years, BMW drew first blood.
RealTime claimed another pole position for Acura at New Jersey Motorsports Park
with Kuno Wittmer, but it was Cunningham who would lead the field away from the
grid in his No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX. Wittmer had called the postqualifying coin flip incorrectly, thus inverting the top five on the grid. Driving the No.
74 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6, Jason Saini launched into second on the
standing start behind Cunningham and by lap three he was around for the lead. Saini
had no trouble taking his second-career win with Cunningham and Andrew Aquilante
(No. 35 Phoenix Performance Inc. Subaru WRX) battling behind him for second and
third.
In his first race behind the wheel of the new TSX, Kleinubing finished fifth in the No.
42 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX at New Jersey.
Kleinubing learned quickly, finishing second in the first of two races at Mosport
behind teammate Wittmer. Cunningham made it an all Acura weekend, winning part
two of the Mosport doubleheader with the Mazdas of Charles Espenalub and Saini in
tow.
Mosport was a bittersweet weekend for rookie Eric Foss, who
qualified on the pole for both races in his No. 75 MAZDASPEED/
StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6, but called both coin flips incorrectly and walked away from the weekend with only a sixth
and ninth-place result. A far cry from his impressive debut at
Sebring, where he finished fourth.
Saini was just beginning to pull out a lead in the Drivers’
Championship with three podium finishes to his credit, when
Round Five at Watkins Glen stunted his progress. While Thomas
held off Espenlaub’s No. 73 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ProParts
MAZDA6 to take his second win of the season, Saini was unable
to advance from his eighth-place qualifying position. Lucky for
him, Kleinubing, who was second in the standings at the time,
could only muster a sixth-place finish. At the season’s halfway
mark, the two were separated by only three points, as were
Peter Cunningham
Acura and Mazda in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
44
45
2009 Review
That’s when Saini hit his stride, winning back-to-back races
at Autobahn Country Club and Mid-Ohio. Both Championships
still remained tight though, as Cunningham and Kleinubing completed the podium at both races.
The chances of a hat trick for Saini were spoiled by none other
than Kleinubing, who finally took a win at his team’s home track,
Road America, and ended a 16-race winless streak in the process.
Kleinubing was joined on the podium by Espenalub and Patrick
Lindsey (No. 57 StreetUnit.com/Snapitt.com MAZDA6), keeping
the Manufacturers’ Championship in a dead heat.
The podium at Road Atlanta would feature neither Mazda nor
Acura. Instead, Round Nine became the BimmerWorld show,
with the BMW squad claiming every prize there was to be had.
Jason Saini
James Clay (No. 36 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i)
earned his first-ever pole, only to have it stolen in the post-qualifying coin flip and
handed to teammate Nick Esayian (No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i).
Come race time it was third-starting Thomas with the win, followed by Clay and Esayian
– the team’s first podium sweep.
The weekend wasn’t near as rosy for the Championship protagonists. Kleinubing collected his worst finish of the season,
10th. Saini could have enhanced his point lead mightily by
capitalizing on Kleinubing’s poor result, but could only manage
an eighth-place finish.
And so we get back to where our story began.
Saini and Kleinubing arrived at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca separated by 54 points. Only one point separated Mazda
and Acura. Qualifying had never been so critical all season
and Kleinubing came through, scoring the pole and calling the
coin toss correctly. Saini, who qualified eighth, now had his
lead cut to 39. Mazda and Acura were officially tied for the
Manufacturers’ Championship. Time to go racing.
While Saini scraped and clawed to make forward progress
Seth Thomas
amongst a mid-pack cluster of feisty Touring Cars, Kleinubing
kept his Acura steady at the front of the field with teammate
Cunningham as his wing man. Their peace was very nearly interrupted by Clay’s BMW,
but nothing would stop Kleinubing that day.
With RealTime team owner Cunningham at his side, Kleinubing climbed the top step
of the podium and claimed his record-tying fifth World Challenge Championship. He
joins Cunningham and Michael Galati as the only drivers to accomplish such a feat.
“Sometimes I can’t believe all this has happened to me,” the newly crowned Champ
said with a smile. “I feel really fortunate. I know that without RealTime and Acura this
wouldn’t have happened. They make me look pretty good. That’s the truth. It’s a team
effort. Without them, I’m just another guy out there.”
But with them, Kleinubing is the 2009 World Challenge Touring Car Champion.
Notes
46
World Challenge GT • Round One • Sebring Int’l Raceway
Rivera Wins in World Challenge GT Debut at Sebring
SEBRING, Fla. (March 20, 2009) – Tony Rivera, of Missouri City, Texas, became the first SCCA
Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT driver in five years to win in his series debut, taking the Toyo
Tires Season Opener at Sebring International Raceway, part of the 57th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of
Sebring Presented by Fresh From Florida. Eric Curran, of East Hampton, Mass., and Brandon Davis,
of Huntington Beach, Calif., completed the top three.
2009 Review
Starting third in the No. 97 Tax Masters/
Mirage Group Porsche 911 GT3, Rivera moved
to second behind polesitter Dino Crescentini’s
No. 4 Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3 on the
standing start. By the end of the first lap,
second-starting Curran was back to second
in his No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet
Corvette. The trio ran in that order until Curran
made his move on Crescentini in Tune One on
lap four. Rivera followed suit a lap later around
the outside of Crescentini in Turn 15 with Davis
putting his No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/
Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang into third two
corners later.
Rivera en route to victory in his maiden race.
Mark Weber photo
Curran’s lead ranged from one car length to as
much as two seconds over the next dozen laps, with Rivera closing in to within 0.8-second when a
lap-14 caution came for debris.
For the first time in series’ history, the new double-file restart was implemented on lap 16, with
Rivera and Curran drag-racing side-by-side into Turn One. Rivera kept on the outside and as the
pair exited the high-speed corner, he edged ahead of the Corvette in the run to Turn Three. The
move earned Rivera the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
From there, Rivera slowly pulled out an advantage to the checkered flag, beating Curran to the
finish line by 2.049 seconds. Rivera also set the race’s fastest lap while in second place, earning the
Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race Award.
Davis, who started fifth, had to fight after the restart with James Sofronas’ Porsche 911 GT3, but
solidified the final spot on the podium after Sofronas spun in some oil on the penultimate lap.
Tony Gaples, of Libertyville, Ill., sliced through the field in his No. 34 Kleinschmidt Inc/Blackdog
Racing Chevrolet Corvette to finish fourth. Despite his quick spin, Sofronas managed to hang on
for fifth place in his No. 14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3. William Ziegler earned the
Sunoco Hard Charger award for advancing nine positions in the event.
It was a surreal day for Rivera, who dreamed for years of one day making it to World Challenge
after running SCCA Solo and Club Racing events for years.
“I don’t think winning a World Challenge race has sunk in yet to tell you the truth,” Rivera reflected.
“I don’t think you ever feel like you’ve really achieved your goals. I got my first race under my belt
and was hoping for a top 10. Probably about midnight tonight it’ll hit me: I’ve made it. Right now,
I’m dumbfounded.”
The win was the first in World Challenge GT competition for a driver making his series debut since
Wolf Henzler won at Infineon Raceway in 2004.
Rivera leaves Sebring with a two-point lead over Curran in the Drivers’ Championship, 124 to 122.
Porsche leads the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine with 10 points to
Ford’s five.
48
World Challenge GT • Round One • Sebring Int’l Raceway
Fn.
Ps.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
DQ
DQ
20
21
22
23
St. Car Laps
During Race
Ps. No. Driver/Hometown, State
Sponsor/Car
Pts. Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap Speed
3 97 Tony Rivera/ Missouri City/TX
Tax Masters/Mirage Group Porsche 911 GT3
124 7500
20
2:11.589 101.224
2 30 Eric Curran/ East Hampton/MA
Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette
122 4000
20 -2.049
2:11.952 100.945
5 10 Brandon Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA ACS/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra
95 3000
20 -2.467
2:12.175 100.775
24 34 Tony Gaples/ Libertyville/IL
Kleinschmidt Inc/Blackdog Rcg Chevrolet Corvette
85 1800
20 -14.012 2:13.854 99.511
4 14 James Sofronas/ Newport Beach/CA Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3
86 1700
20 -17.79
2:12.541 100.497
13 35 Andrew Aquilante/ Phoenixville/PA
Phoenix Performance Inc. Chevrolet Corvette
76 1400
20 -17.993 2:14.208 99.249
14 13 David Welch(R)/ Kirkland/WA
Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper
72 1300
20 -23.098 2:14.154 99.288
16 05 William Ziegler(R)/ Jacksonville/FL
Swisher Racing/GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3
68 1300
20 -23.478 2:15.052 98.628
25
6 Joey Scarallo/ Smithtown/NY
Group A Wheels Pontiac GTO
54
600
20 -33.583 2:16.309 97.719
17 44 Lee Saunders(R)/ Lakeland/FL
60 1000
20 -34.468 2:14.555 98.993
Dodge Viper
10 31 Sonny Whelen/ Old Saybrook/CT
57
800
20 -35.096 2:14.067 99.353
20
8 Andy Pilgrim/ Boca Raton/FL
K-Pax Racing Volvo S60
54
700
20 -39.14
2:15.953 97.975
12 47 Rob Morgan/ Costa Mesa/CA
EverCleanse/NADA/TruSpeed Porsche 911 GT3
51
600
20 -44.345 2:14.350 99.144
18
2 Steve Valentinetti(G)/ Burien/WA
48
550
20 -1:04.372 2:19.887 95.219
Porsche GT3 Cup
8 66 Tim McKenzie/ Madison/WI
45
500
20 -1:07.451 2:12.550 100.49
Porsche 911 GT3
7 12 Brian Kubinski/ Shorewood/IL
Trim-Tex Drywall Products Chevrolet Corvette
43
450
18 -2 laps
2:13.077 100.092
1
4 Dino Crescentini/ Manhattan Beach/CAStoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3
61
400
16 Mech.
2:12.433 100.579
9 56 Ritch Marziale/ Tempe/AZ
Muzzy Racing USA/All-Cut Dodge Viper
39
7 Mech.
2:14.414 99.096
6
5 Jason Daskalos/ Albuquerque/NM
Daskalos Developements Dodge Viper
37
4 Brakes
2:12.573 100.473
15 99 Jeff Courtney/ Slinger/WI
KENDA/JTM IWM/Coins of America Dodge Viper
20 -16.045 2:13.731 99.603
11
9 Gunter Schaldach/ Aspen/CO
Lala Motorsports Dodge Viper
20 -2:19.189 2:13.918 99.463
19
6 Joe Foster/ Lawrenceville/GA
Hypersports Lotus Exige S
0 DNS
no time
21
1 Randy Pobst/ Gainesville/GA
K Pax Racing Volvo S60
0 DNS
no time
22
7 Dan Pastorini(R)/ Houston/TX
DP7 Racing Lamborghini Gallardo
0 DNS
no time
23 24 Patrick Flanagan(G)/Laguna Niguel/CA Porsche GT3 Cup
0 DNS
no time
** - Faster than previous record
Purse includes contingency awards
Notes:
- #99 Courtney disqualified in post-race technical inspection: axel weight
- #9 Schaldach disqualified in post-race technical inspection: cam shaft
- #06 fined 10 points for contact
- #12 Kubinski penalized one minute for improving position prior to the restart
- #99 Schaldach penalized one minute for improving position prior to the restart
Race Statistics
Time of race: 47 minutes, 29.546 seconds.
Average speed: 93.488 mph
Margin of victory: 2.049 Seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-3, #4 Dino Crescentini
Laps 4-15, #30 Eric Curran
Laps 16-20, #97 Tony Rivera
Débaufré Fastest Race Lap: #97 Tony Rivera, 2:11.589 (101.224 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #4 Dino Crescentini, 2:10.228 (102.282 mph)
Cautions: One for three laps
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #97 Rivera pass for the lead
Sunoco Hard Charger of the Race: #05 Ziegler advanced eight positions in the race
49
World Challenge GT • Round Two • Long Beach
Sofronas Scores Hometown World Challenge Win At Long Beach
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 19, 2009) – James Sofronas, of nearby Newport Beach, Calif., took
a popular hometown win Sunday at the World Challenge ACS Grand Prix of Long Beach Presented
by Lala Motorsports, Round Two of the 2009 SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Championship.
Eric Curran, of Easthampton, Mass., and Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., completed
the podium.
In the closer of the 35th Toyota Grand Prix of
Long Beach, Sofronas started second in his No.
14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3
and moved past Mike Davis’ No. 11 Applied
Computer Solutions/SunMicro Ford Mustang
Cobra on lap two to take the lead. While he
had cars close behind him, Sofronas drove a
flawless race to take his second-career victory.
2009 Review
“This was a race we wanted to win for obvious
reasons – you want to win in front of the
hometown crowd,” Sofronas said. “We’ve been
Sofronas delivered a victory in front of the hometown
coming here for the last three years and had
fans. Mark Weber photo
top fives every time, but finally getting the win
is so gratifying. I think our team was one of the
last to leave the paddock this weekend. They were up until 2:30 in the morning making changes.”
Curran, the 2007 race winner, started seventh but moved to fourth by the time a lap three caution
came out to re-set the Turn One tire wall. Despite high engine temperatures in the 96-degree heat,
Curran’s No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette was able to move up steadily after the
restart, passing Mike Davis for third on lap eight and setting his sights on the lead duo of Sofronas
and Brandon Davis’ No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra.
With two laps to go, Davis missed a shift, allowing Curran to get a run and up to second place,
equaling his Sebring finish to take the point standings lead.
Brandon Davis, the defending race winner, also experienced high engine temperatures, but held on
for his second third-place finish of the season.
The lead trio stretched out to a 20-second lead over fourth place Mike Davis, a career-best, after
swapping fourth place with Tony Rivera several times. Jason Daskalos moved up from his eighth
starting position to complete the top five on the final lap in his No. 5 Daskalos Developments Dodge
Viper. His lap-27 pass on Rivera on the outside of Turn Nine earned him the AutoWeek Move of
the Race.
Andy Pilgrim turned the Debaufre Fast Lap of the race with a 1:26.744 (81.674 mph) and passed
Rivera for sixth on the final lap.
Tony Gaples earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing from 17th to ninth in his No. 34
Kleinschmidt Inc/Blackdog Racing Chevrolet Corvette.
Craig Stanton, of Long Beach, Calif., won the GT3 Cup Shootout, finishing 11th overall in his stock
No. 07 Aasco Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup.
After two of 10 Rounds, Curran took over the Drivers’ Championship point lead, with 222, followed
by Sofronas (212), Brandon Davis (199) and Rivera (196). With two wins on the season, Porsche
leads the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine, with 19 points, followed by
Ford (10), Volvo (two) and Dodge (two).
50
World Challenge GT • Round Two • Long Beach
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Ps. Ps. No. Driver/Hometown, State
Sponsor/Car
Fast Lap Speed
1
2
14 James Sofronas/ Newport Beach/CA
Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3
126 7500
29
1:26.842 81.582
2
7
30 Eric Curran/ Easthampton/MA
100 4000
29 -2.43
1:27.080 81.359
3
4
10 Brandon Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA ACS/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra
104 3000
29 -4.37
1:27.019 81.416
4
1
11 Mike Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA
5
8
6
ACS/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra
93 1800
29 -19.859
1:27.612 80.865
80 1700
29 -20.706
1:27.262 81.190
3
85 1400
29 -20.812
1:26.744 81.674
7
6
97 Tony Rivera/ Missouri City/TX
72 1300
29 -21.118
1:27.329 81.127
8
5
83 1200
29 -29.953
1:27.039 81.398
1:29.167 79.455
9 17
34 Tony Gaples/ Libertyville/IL
64 1100
29 -55.375
10 15
99 Jeff Courtney/ Slinger/WI
60 1000
29 -1:00.388 1:28.948 79.651
11
9
07 Craig Stanton(G)/ Long Beach/CA
Aasco Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup
57 3000
29 -1:02.825 1:28.680 79.891
12 13
05 William Ziegler(R)/ Jacksonville/FL
54
700
28 -1 lap
1:30.135 78.602
13 19
69 Galen Bieker(R)(G)/ Burbank/CA
WERKS II Motorsports Porsche GT3 Cup
51 2000
28 -1 lap
1:30.535 78.254
14 14
56 Ritch Marziale/ Tempe/AZ
48
550
28 -1 lap
1:29.213 79.414
15 10
47 Rob Morgan/ Costa Mesa/CA
EverCleanse/NADA/TruSpeed Porsche 911 GT3
45
500
28 -1 lap
1:28.764 79.816
16 24
25 Robert Rodriguez(R)(G)/ Burbank/CA WERKS II Mororsports Porsche GT3 Cup
43 1000
28 -1 lap
1:33.332 75.909
17 23
45 Bret Curtis(R)(G)/ Valencia/CA
41
400
28 -1 lap
1:32.965 76.209
18 25
24 Patrick Flanagan(R)(G)/ Laguna Niguel/CA Porsche GT3 Cup
39
375
28 -1 lap
1:32.718 76.412
19 12
13 David Welch(R)/ Kirkland/WA
37
350
26 -3 laps
1:29.299 79.338
20 21
36 Wesley Hoaglund(G)/ Tustin/CA
35
300
22 Tire
1:32.528 76.569
21 11
17 Rob Foster/ Phoenix/AZ
LT1 Contracting/Foster Motspts Dodge Viper
33
10 Mech.
1:28.312 80.224
22 18
31 Sonny Whelen/ Old Saybrook/CT
31
9 Mech.
1:30.311 78.449
23 22
18 Kyle Foster(R)/ Phoenix/AZ
LTI Contracting/Foster Motspts Chevrolet Corvette
29
8 Mech.
1:31.790 77.184
24 20
27
5 Mech.
1:30.319 78.442
25 16
0 DNS
no time
26 26
0 DNS
no time
27 27
7 Chip Herr/ Litiz/PA
0 DNS
no time
Global Motorsports Group Porsche GT3 Cup
Porsche GT3 Cup
DP7 Racing Lamborghini Gallardo
Race Statistics
Time of race: 46 minutes, 28.291 seconds
Margin of victory: 2.430 seconds
Lap leaders: Lap 1, Mike Davis
Laps 2-29, James Sofronas
Debaufre Fastest race lap: Andy Pilgrim, 1:26.744 (81.674 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #10 Brandon Davis, 1:25.479 (82.883 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: Tony Gaples advanced from 17th to ninth
AutoWeek Move of the Race: Jason Daskalos pass on Tony Rivera
Cautions: One for three laps
Note: Top five qualifiers inverted with coin flip
51
World Challenge GT • Round Three • New Jersey
Pilgrim Leads Volvo 1-2 at New Jersey World Challenge GT
MILLVILLE, N.J. (May 2, 2009) – Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., led from pole to checker to
capture his eighth-career SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Championship win Saturday at New
Jersey Motorsport Park’s Thunderbolt Raceway. Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., completed a K-Pax
Racing Volvo sweep, with Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., finishing third.
2009 Review
Driving the No. 8 K-Pax Racing Volvo S60,
Pilgrim got the holeshot on the standing start
from the pole with his all-wheel drive system
and set sail. Only a mid-race caution, when
a five-minute drizzle dampened the 2.25-mile
circuit, could bring the field close to Pilgrim. On
the race’s restart, he maintained his advantage
to take the win in just his third start for K-Pax
Racing.
Pobst’s run to the podium was more difficult.
Starting second in the No. 1 K-Pax Racing
Volvo S60, the defending series Champion
Pilgrim led a Volvo 1-2 in tricky conditions at NJMP.
crept just prior to the start, resulting in a stopMark Weber photo
and-go penalty that sent him to the rear of the
field. With the lap-23 restart on a damp circuit,
Pobst’s all-wheel drive took over, launching him to second from fifth by the time the field completed
its first lap back to green.
Pilgrim beat his teammate to the checkered flag by 0.433-second, averaging 83.835 mph over the
course of the 30-lap, 67.5-mile race. Pilgrim also earned the Débaufré Fast Lap of the Race, turning
a 1:24.944 (95.357 mph) on lap two.
“It was a huge bonus when the rain came out,” Pilgrim said “Obviously, with four-wheel drive, we
have a huge advantage. I was running as hard as I could. At the end, I saw Randy come back up
to fifth. I thought he was going to get by those other guys pretty quick because it is slippery. As
it dried out, I pushed it harder and harder and he was right there. It was a great day for K-Pax
Racing and Volvo.”
The win was the second for Volvo in World Challenge competition, and the first since 2004.
Davis ran second in his No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang Cobra
for the first half of the race. Just before the rain came, he came under attack from Tony Rivera’s
No. 97 Tax Masters/Mirage Group Porsche 911 GT3 for the position. On the restart, Pobst moved
through and Rivera bobbled, falling back to seventh. Davis brought the Mustang home for his third
podium finish of the year.
Curran’s No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette wouldn’t start on the grid. After changing
out the battery, the point leader started from pit lane. He sliced through the field, turning laps faster
than everyone but the Volvos. Curran’s pass on James Sofronas for fourth and a side-by-side run
with Davis earned him the AutoWeek Move of the Race. However, post-race technical inspection
revealed a non-compliant throttle body spacer, and the car was disqualified.
Gunter Schaldach, of Aspen, Colo., advanced to a career-best fourth-place finish in the No. 9 Lala
Motorsports Dodge Viper, edging a resurgent Rivera for the position at the stripe.
Davis takes over the point lead going into Round Four, with 300, followed by Sofronas (294),
Rivera (279), Pilgrim (274) and Curran (222). Porsche maintained its Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER lead with 21, followed by Ford (15), Volvo (12), Chevrolet (12) and Dodge
(five).
52
World Challenge GT • Round Three • New Jersey
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts. Purse Cmp Status Fast Lap Speed
1
1
135 7500
30
1:24.944 95.357
2
2
112 4000
30 -0.433
1:25.704 94.511
3
3
101 3000
30 -6.134
1:26.131 94.042
4
7
5
5
6
4
7
8
85 1800
30 -15.711 1:27.103 92.993
83 1700
30 -15.787 1:26.153 94.018
82 1400
30 -22.104 1:26.608 93.524
8
72 1300
30 -25.301 1:27.297 92.786
9
68 1200
29 -1 lap
1:27.898 92.152
9 10
53 Mike Hartley/ Williamstown/NJ
Dezigns Construction Dodge Viper
64 1100
29 -1 lap
1:30.255 89.745
10 11
60 1000
28 -2 laps
1:28.480 91.546
57
1 Mech.
11 12
DQ
6
30 -6.572
no time
1:25.778 94.429
Note: #30 Curran disqualified per technical inspection
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Débaufré Fastest race lap:
Fastest qualifier:
Sunoco Hard Charger:
AutoWeek Move of the Race:
Cautions:
48 minutes, 18.522 seconds.
83.835 mph
0.433-Second
Laps 1-30, #8 Andy Pilgrim
#8 Andy Pilgrim, 1:24.944 (95.357 mph), Record
#8 Andy Pilgrim, 1:23.712 (96.760 mph), Record
#9 Gunter Schaldach
#30 Curran for his pass on Sofronas for fourth
One for three laps
53
World Challenge GT • Round Four • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Daskalos Takes Thrilling World Challenge GT Win at Mosport
CANADA (May 17, 2009) – Jason Daskalos, of Albuquerque, N.M., captured his first-career win
Sunday in a thrilling Round Four SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Championship race Sunday,
part of the Victoria Day Speedfest at Mosport International Raceway. Brandon Davis, of Huntington
Beach, Calif., and Tony Rivera, of Missouri City, Texas, completed the podium.
Starting second in the No. 5 Daskalos
Developments Dodge Viper, Daskalos got the
holeshot on the standing start past firststarting Randy Pobst and led the entire 30-lap,
73.77-mile race, averaging a record 103.485
mph.
While race statistics will show that Daskalos
led Davis the entire race, the battle in the top
six was intense, with cars running bumper-tobumper the entire race.
2009 Review
Daskalos captured his first-career win in his
22nd start, becoming the fourth different
World Challenge GT winner in as many races
this year. His previous best finish was fourth at
New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2008.
Daskalos showed the Viper and the “little guy” can still
win in GT. Mark Weber photo.
“It’s amazing to win,” Daskalos said. “Honestly, it’s a dream come true. When I started out in World
Challenge, in my rookie year, it was tough to even get into the top 10 and we worked hard and it’s
paid off. I’m thrilled.
Davis won the pole in his No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/Sun Micro Ford Mustang Cobra, but
lost the Fast Five Coin Toss, thus inverting the top five. On the standing start, he rocketed from fifth
to second to affix his Mustang onto the back bumper of the Viper, a position he would maintain the
rest of the race. The runner-up finish accompanies a trio of third-place finishes from the opening
three rounds of 2009.
Rivera struggled with his No. 97 Tax Masters/Mirage Group Porsche 911 GT3 Cup during qualifying,
starting seventh. He was able to move to fourth at the start and advanced to third when Pobst’s
No. 1 K-Pax Racing Volvo S60 developed a turbocharger wastegate problem and slowed on lap 25.
It was Rivera’s second podium finish of the season after his win at Sebring.
For advancing four positions during the race, Rivera captured the Sunoco Hard Charger award.
Andy Pilgrim started third in his No. 8 K-Pax Racing Volvo S60, but fell back at the start. He was
part of the nose-to-tail battle all race long that saw the top six blanketed by less than two seconds
for much of the run. He set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race for the third-straight time with a
time of 1:24.805 (104.385 mph) en route to a fourth-place finish.
Eric Curran tried for a third-straight Mosport win, but got away from the standing start slowly from
fourth on the grid in his No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette. He battled back to finish
fifth.
For his drive, Daskalos earned the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
Davis extended his point lead to 44, 415 to 371 over Rivera. Pilgrim sits third, with 368, followed by
Sofronas (358) and Curran (314). Porsche maintains the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented
by RACER Magazine lead, with 26 points over Ford (23), Volvo (15), and Chevrolet and Dodge (14
apiece).
54
World Challenge GT • Round Four • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Fn. St. Car
Sponsor/Car
LapsDuring Race
Pts. PurseCmp Status
1
2
2
5
10 Brandon Davis/HuntingtonBch/CAApplied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra
3
7
4
3
5
4
6
6
7
8
8
1
9
9
10 12
5 Jason Daskalos/ Albuquerque/NMDaskalos Developements Dodge Viper
1:24.866 104.310
115 4000
30 -0.682
1:24.901 104.267
92 3000
30 -2.510
1:24.903 104.264
94 1800
30 -4.165
1:24.805 104.385
92 1700
30 -6.549
1:24.869 104.306
76 1400
30 -7.570
1:24.828 104.357
72 1300
30 -33.098 1:25.369 103.695
71 1200
30 -37.596 1:24.810 104.379
64 1100
30 -40.926 1:25.491 103.547
60 1000
28 -2 laps
1:27.964 100.636
16 Tire
1:25.703 103.291
6 Tire
1:26.871 101.902
1 Mech.
no time
31 Sonny Whelen/ Old Saybrook/CT Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette
14 James Sofronas/ Newport Bch/CAGlobal Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3
Speed
30
4 Dino Crescentini/ManhattanBch/CA Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3
Fast Lap
126 7500
11 10
57
12 11
54
13 13
05 William Ziegler(R)/ Jacksonville/FL Swisher Racing/GMG Racing Chevrolet Corvette
800
51
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Fastest qualifier:
103.485 mph, Record
0.682-second
Laps 1-30, #5 Jason Daskalos
#8 Andy Pilgrim, 1:24.805 (104.385 mph)
#10 Brandon Davis, 1:23.379 (106.170 mph)
#97 Tony Rivera advanced four positions
#5 Jason Daskalos
55
World Challenge GT • Round Five • Watkins Glen
Crescentini Takes First GT Win Since ’05 at The Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 4, 2009) – Dino Crescentini, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., captured
his first SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Championship win since 2005 on Saturday, holding
off Eric Curran, of Easthampton, Mass., at the finish of the Toyo Tires Watkins Glen Grand Prix
Presented by Lala Motorsports. James Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., finished third in the
event, part of the Camping World Grand Prix
Weekend at Watkins Glen International.
2009 Review
Starting second in the No. 4 Stoptech/GMG
Porsche 911 GT3, Crescentini got the jump on
first starting Jason Daskalos’ No. 5 Daskalos
Developments Dodge Viper, but not as good
as teammate Sofronas, who moved his No. 14
Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3 to
the lead from third on the grid.
Sofronas led Crescentini for the opening four
laps before Crescentini put the No. 4 car out
front on lap five, outbraking his teammate
Crescentini leads the field up through the Esses.
going into the Inner Loop—a move that earned
Mark Weber photo.
him the AutoWeek Move of the Race. From
there, Crescentini held ground and gradually
pulled away as Curran and Sofronas traded second place, turning the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the
race with a 1:55.347 (106.114 mph).
Curran finally took the runner-up spot for good in his No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette
on lap 15 and set his sights on the leader. In the final three laps of the 22-lap, 74.8-mile race, he
knocked two seconds off the lead and came up just 0.255-second short at the finish line.
It was Crescentini’s second-career win. He last won a World Challenge GT race at Portland
International Raceway in 2005—his debut start. Crescentini became the sixth different winner in
six races this year.
“I have to credit my team and especially Steve Ruiz,” Crescentini said. “The car was nothing last
year until he came on board. He was everything to me. He gave me the car and all I had to do was
drive it. I think my car was slightly better than James’ [Sofronas] today. We each have our days
and I think I just had a bit of an edge on the setup this weekend.”
Curran qualified second, but started fourth after the top five were inverted when pole winner
Brandon Davis lost the post-qualifying coin toss. The second-place finish equaled his best finish of
2009, at the season opening round at Sebring International Raceway. Curran earned the Sunoco
Hard Charger award for advancing from fourth to second.
Davis ran fourth for much of the race in his No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions Ford Mustang, but
broke a throttle cable on the last lap, dropping him to eighth with partial power. That advanced
Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., to fourth in his No. 1 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60. Pobst’s teammate,
Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., ran eighth much of the race, but was able to move up to fifth at
the finish in his No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60.
Daskalos’ day went much different than at the most recent race at Mosport, where he started up
front with the inversion and carried that spot to victory. Daskalos ran sixth for much of the race,
and finished seventh, holding off Tony Rivera’s Porsche 911 GT3 at the finish line.
Davis maintained the point lead halfway through the 10-race season, with 498 points. Sofronas and
Pilgrim moved past Rivera, with 464, 448 and 443, respectively. Curran is fifth, with 426. Porsche
extended its Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine lead, with 35, to Ford’s
24, followed by Chevrolet (21), Volvo (18) and Dodge (15).
56
World Challenge GT • Round Five • Watkins Glen
Fn. St. Car Laps
Sponsor/Car
1
2
126
7500
22
1:55.347 106.114
2
4
112
4000
22 -0.255
1:55.491 105.982
3
3
106
3000
22 -1.991
1:55.672 105.816
4
6
85
1800
22 -4.273
1:55.724 105.768
5
7
80
1700
22 -20.142
1:56.597 104.977
6
1
79
1400
22 -21.597
1:56.503 105.061
7
9
72
1300
22 -21.701
1:56.613 104.962
8
5
10 Brandon Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra 83
1200
22 -31.536
1:56.021 105.498
1100
22 -1:02.887
1:57.401 104.258
9 10
10
8
11 11
During Race
Fast Lap Speed
64
60
Swisher Racing/GMG Racing Dodge Viper
57
2 Mech.
1:58.949 102.901
1 WTHDRWN no time
Race Statistics
Average speed: 104.877 mph, Record
Margin of victory: 0.255-Second, Record
Lap leaders: Laps 1-4, #14 James Sofronas
Laps 5-22, #4 Dino Crescentini
Cautions: None
Débaufré Fastest Race lap: #4 Dino Crescentini, 1:55.347 (106.114 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #30 Eric Curran
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #4 Dino Crescentini
57
World Challenge GT • Round Six • Autobahn
Pobst Takes Wild World Challenge GT Win at Autobahn
JOLIET, Ill. (July 26, 2009) – Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., won the SCCA Pro Racing World
Challenge GT Grand Prix at Autobahn Presented by Blackdog Speed Shop Sunday, taking his first
win of the season in an eventful race at the first-time venue, part of the Harrah’s Autobahn Grand
Prix Presented by Mazda weekend. Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Brian Kubinski,
of nearby Shorewood, Ill., completed the top
three.
2009 Review
Pobst started his No. 1 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60
second on the grid, but was third, behind the
polesitting No. 14 Global Motorsports Group
Porsche 911 GT3 of James Sofronas and the
No. 97 Tax Masters/Brass Monkey Racing
Porsche 911 GT3 of third-starting Tony Rivera,
as he exited Turn One. The entire race changed
in one short straight to Turn Two for Pobst
though, as he left Turn Two with the lead.
“I got a good shot off that first corner,”
Pobst was dominant all weekend in his Volvo.
Pobst said. “I figured ‘now or never’ on Tony,
Mark Weber photo
because I knew he’d be difficult to pass. I flat
dive-bombed into the inside of Turn Two and
that worked. Meanwhile, up ahead, James Sofronas got in a little hot and had a wiggle. I cut down
inside of him, skimmed his mirrors and we were first! It was an amazing turn of events and a very
important factor in the outcome of this race.”
Pobst stretched out to a 2.9-second lead over Rivera when a full-course caution came out on lap five
to extract Tony Gaples from the Turn Two tires. The lap-nine double-file restart would dramatically
change the running order.
Pobst had the inside line going into the tight Turn One, with Rivera alongside in the first row. As the
cars made the middle of the corner, Rivera was backwards and the field fanned out, with Kubinski
moving from seventh to and Davis slotting in third after a trip to the grass.
In all, Rivera, Sofronas, Crescentini, Eric Curran (Chevrolet Corvette), Gunter Schaldach (Dodge
Viper) and Tim McKenzie (Porsche 911 GT3) were involved in the incident.
Series officials elected to have a single-file restart on lap 12, and Pobst was able to get away cleanly
and cruise to a 1.793-second win. It was the two-time defending series’ Champion’s first win of
the season. Pobst also turned the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race with a 2:29.046 (85.986 mph).
Davis was able to move past Kubinski into second on lap 12. Kubinski stood on the podium for the
first time in his World Challenge career. He earned the AutoWeek Move of the Race for moving up
from seventh to second on the restart.
Andy Pilgrim started his No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 fourth, but bogged on the start and fell back
to ninth. On lap four, he spun back to 16th but picked his way through spinning cars and traffic to
fight back up to finish fourth.
Rivera pitted under caution and went from 13th to sixth on the lap-12 restart. Rookie Nick Mancuso
advanced to ninth place and was named the Sunoco Hard Charger for picking up eight spots from
his grid position.
Davis extended his World Challenge GT Drivers’ Championship lead, with 598 to Sofronas’ 555.
Pilgrim remains third, with 539, followed by Rivera (537) and now Pobst, with 483. Porsche now
leads the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine by seven (38-31). Volvo
moved in to third, with 27, followed by Chevrolet (26) and Dodge (15).
58
World Challenge GT • Round Six • Autobahn
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Fast Lap Speed
1
2
2
6
132 7500
16
2:29.046 85.986
100 4000
16 -1.793
3
9
12 Brian Kubinski/ Shorewood/IL
2:30.333 85.250
92 3000
16 -2.941
4
4
2:30.838 84.965
K-PAX Racing Volvo S60
91 1800
16 -4.347
5
3
2:30.796 84.989
Tax Masters/Brass Monkey Rcg Porsche 911 GT3
94 1700
16 -5.06
6
1
2:29.768 85.572
91 1400
16 -5.916
2:29.854 85.523
7 11
TruSpeed Motorsports/NADA Porsche 911 GT3
72 1300
16 -10.764
2:31.844 84.402
8 15
68 1200
16 -16.417
2:32.403 84.092
9 17 007 Nick Mancuso(R)/ Lake Bluff/IL
Lake Forest Sportscars Aston Martin DB9
64 1100
16 -21.725
2:33.416 83.537
10 13
60 1000
16 -28.001
2:32.765 83.893
11 16
57
800
16 -28.885
2:33.982 83.230
12 19
54
700
16 -30.936
2:33.926 83.260
13 18
46 Charles Morgan/ Dallas/TX
TruSpeed Motorsports/Querencia Posche 911 GT3
51
600
16 -1:05.293 2:33.086 83.717
14 14
71 Spencer Pumpelly/ Suwanee/GA
48
550
15 Mech.
2:33.147 83.684
38
11 Mech.
2:30.113 85.375
15
5
Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 GT
16 10
66 Tim McKenzie/ Madison/WI
Eurosport Racing Porsche 911 GT3
43
450
9 Crash
2:31.573 84.553
17
7
41
400
8 Crash
2:30.403 85.211
18
8
19
8 Crash
2:31.716 84.473
37
4 Crash
2:32.319 84.139
0 DNS
no time
0 DNS
no time
19 12
20 20
25 Robert Rodriguez(R)(G)/ Burbank/CA WERKS II Mororsports Porsche GT3 Cup
21 21
23 Mike Borkowski/ Miami Beach/FL
Notes:
#4 Dino Crescentini fined $500 and 10 points for driving conduct
#9 Schaldach fined $1,000 and 20 points for driving conduct
Race Statistics
Margin of victory: 1.793 Seconds, Record
Lap leaders: Laps 1-7, #1 Randy Pobst
Laps 9-16, #1 Randy Pobst
Débaufré Fastest race lap: #1 Randy Pobst, 2:29.046 (85.986 mph), Record
Fastest qualifier: #14 James Sofronas, 2:26.960 (87.207 mph),
Record
Cautions: Two for six laps
Sunoco Hard Charger: #007 Nick Mancuso advanced eight positions
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #12 Kubinski for the first restart
59
World Challenge GT • Round Seven • Mid-Ohio
Davis Dominant in World Challenge GT at Mid-Ohio
LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 9, 2009) – After five trips to the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge
GT podium this season, Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., finally made the climb to the
top step, winning the Toyo Tires Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network. Tony Rivera, of
Missouri City, Texas, and James Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., completed the top three for
Round Seven at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Starting from pole in the No. 10 Applied
Computer Solutions/Sun Microsystems Ford
Mustang Cobra, Davis powered away from the
grid on the start, maintaining his lead into Turn
One over second-starting Andy Pilgrim in the
No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60. Pilgrim stuck
with Davis for the opening laps, but the current
point leader opened up a lead of more than a
second by lap 10.
2009 Review
“From the start, I knew the conditions would
be a challenge with the heat,” Davis said. “On
the start, I cranked the launch control up as
A dramatic late-race pass gave Curran his first World
much as I could so I wouldn’t spin the tires too
Challenge GT win of 2008. WC/Weber photo
much. I focused on not slipping much coming
out of the corners and being real smooth an real consistent.”
On lap 17, Davis’ gap to second tripled, as Pilgrim pulled into pitlane with a broken transmission
output shaft. Rivera inherited third with a dozen laps remaining and was able to close the gap to
Davis, who had gone into conservation mode. Without a single yellow flag in the 29-lap, 65.481
mile-race, Rivera was unable to make a proper bid for the lead.
After inheriting second from Pilgrim, Rivera went on a charge, closing the gap to Davis. Davis
cranked it up at the end, pulling away and erasing Rivera’s chances for a second race win in 2009.
Rivera set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race.
Eric Curran was able to follow Rivera around Sofronas in the Esses, but on the following lap, the
No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette suffered a suspension failure. Running inches off of
Curran’s bumper at the time, Sofronas made contact with the Corvette and fell all the way to ninth.
Sofronas was able to climb back to fourth in his No. 14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3,
and was promoted to third with Pilgrim’s retirement.
Defending Champion Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., made a stunning drive through the field.
Transmission trouble on the No. 1 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 prevented Pobst from turning a single
lap in qualifying, regulating him to the final spot on the grid. By lap 10, Pobst was up to seventh
and continued to slice his way through the field, finishing fourth. The drive earned Pobst the Sunoco
Hard Charger of the Race Award, as well as the AutoWeek Move of the Race Award for his pass on
Jeff Courtney’s No. 99 Kenda/JTM/Coins of America Dodge Viper in Turn 11 for sixth.
Dino Crescentini, of Manhattan Beach, Calif., may have started and finished fifth in his No. 4
StopTech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3, but his race was anything but uneventful. The Watkins Glen race
winner dropped to sixth on the opening lap, but bounced back up to fourth following Sofronas’
run-in with Curran. Sofronas would eventually re-pass his teammate before Pobst sent Crescentini
back to his starting spot on lap 21.
With the win, Davis strengthened his lead over Sofronas in the Drivers’ Championship with 733
points to Sofronas’ 656. Rivera is third with 643, followed by Pilgrim (596) and teammate Pobst
(568). Porsche continues to lead the World Challenge GT Manufacturers’ Championship Presented
by RACER Magazine with 45 points. Ford is second with 41, followed by Volvo (30), Chevrolet (26)
and Viper (16).
60
World Challenge GT • Round Seven • Mid-Ohio
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Fast Lap Speed
1
1
135 7500
29
1:28.127 92.239
2
4
106 4000
29 -1.396
1:27.981 92.392
3
3
101 3000
29 -9.592
1:28.013 92.359
85 1800
29 -21.311
1:27.997 92.375
83 1700
29 -31.220
1:28.833 91.506
4 16
5
5
6 10
76 1400
29 -41.740
1:28.846 91.493
7
13 Charles Putman/ Mills/WY
72 1300
29 -47.810
1:29.178 91.152
68 1200
29 -49.340
1:29.548 90.775
64 1100
29 -49.849
1:29.162 91.168
8
8 11
9 12
10 14
60 1000
29 -1:05.453 1:28.882 91.456
11
9
57
800
29 -1:05.649 1:29.597 90.726
12
7
54
700
28 -1 lap
1:29.833 90.487
13 15
53 Mike Hartley/ Williamstown/NJ
Dezigns Construction Dodge Viper
51
600
28 -1 lap
1:30.530 89.791
14 13
48
550
26 -3 laps
1:30.351 89.969
57
500
17 Trans.
1:28.103 92.264
43
2 Susp.
2:37.447 51.628
15
2
16
6
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Debaufre Fastest race lap:
Fastest qualifier:
Cautions:
91.677 mph
1.396 Seconds
Laps 1-29, #10 Brandon Davis
#97 Tony Rivera, 1:27.981 (92.392 mph)
#10 Brandon Davis, 1:26.497 (93.977 mph)
#1 Randy Pobst
#1 Pobst pass of #99 Courtney for sixth
None
61
World Challenge GT • Round Eight • Road America
Rivera All The Way in World Challenge GT at Road America
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 16, 2009) – After Eight Rounds of SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge
GT competition, Tony Rivera, of Missouri City, Texas, became the first repeat winner of the 2009
season, taking the Road America Grand Prix Presented by StopTech. Eric Curran, of Easthampton,
Mass., and Dino Crescentini, of Manhattan Beach, Fla., completed the podium at Road America, site
of this weekend’s Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase.
2009 Review
Starting third in the No. 97 Tax Masters/
Brass Monkey Racing Porsche 911 GT3, Rivera
was the primary beneficiary when the No. 14
Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3 of
polesitter James Sofronas remained motionless
on the standing start. Skirting his way around
the disabled Porsche, Rivera charged into Turn
One side-by-side with the No. 13 Woodhouse
Performance Dodge Viper of Canadian Kuno
Wittmer, who started second.
“I didn’t expect James not to move,” Rivera
said. “I almost got into the back of him
Rivera dedicated his win to fellow Texan Tom Thrash,
because I was so focused on the lights. They who died at Road America in June. Mark Weber photo.
went out, I looked up and was like ‘oh no!’ I
got alongside Kuno and I don’t think he knew that I was there. He was trying to protect the right
side and I nearly had my right tires in the grass all the way up to Turn One. I decided to give [the
position] to him.”
Wittmer exited Turn One with the lead, but a mirror-full of Rivera. After taking several looks, Rivera
made the move for the lead in Turn 12. From there, Rivera sped away to his second World Challenge
win of the season, winning by 7.268 seconds and averaging a record 104.824 mph in the 19-lap,
76.911-mile race, which ran caution-free.
En route to victory at the 14-turn, four-mile course, Rivera set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the
Race, a 2:17.565 (105.934 mph).
Starting fifth, Curran briefly lost a position on the opening lap, before commencing a charge to the
runner-up spot. By lap five, the driver of the No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette was
pressuring Brandon Davis for third.
Shortly after Wittmer dropped out of the race from second with a broken knuckle bearing on the
right-rear wheel, Curran was around Davis in Turn Five and into second place. With Rivera out of
sight, Curran would cruise to his fourth runner-up finish of the season.
Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., held onto his point lead with a fourth-place finish in his
No. 10 Applied Computer Solutions/Sun Microsystems Ford Mustang Cobra. Davis now leads Rivera
by 52 points (824 to 772).
Jason Daskalos, of Albuquerque, N.M., had a fantastic drive in the No. 5 Daskalos Developments
Dodge Viper. Starting 11th, the Mosport race winner picked up four positions on the opening lap
alone en route to a fifth-place finish.
With Rivera’s win, Porsche extended its lead in the World Challenge GT Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER to 11 over Ford (55 to 44). Chevrolet (33) passed Volvo (31) for third. Viper
is fifth with 18 points.
62
World Challenge GT • Round Eight • Road America
Fn. St. Car Laps
Sponsor/Car
During Race
Fast Lap Speed
1
3
129 7500
19
2:17.565 105.934
2
5
103 4000
19 -7.268
2:18.095 105.527
3
6
92 3000
19 -8.583
2:18.180 105.462
4
4
19 -24.432
2:18.099 105.524
10 Brandon Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra 91 1800
5 11
80 1700
19 -38.555
2:18.658 105.098
6
7
76 1400
19 -54.381
2:19.142 104.733
7
9
72 1300
19 -56.559
2:20.283 103.881
8 15
68 1200
19 -1:08.301 2:20.571 103.668
9 17
64 1100
19 -1:08.737 2:20.237 103.915
10 16
60 1000
19 -1:08.988 2:19.972 104.112
57
800
19 -1:09.686 2:20.881 103.440
19 -1:34.401 2:20.713 103.564
11 13
12 14
12 Brian Kubinski/ Shorewood/IL
54
700
13 12
51
600
14
2
13 Kuno Wittmer/ Montreal/QU
60
15
1
60
16
8
43
Lala Motorsports Posche 911 GT3
41
17 10
18 18
19 -1:49.969 2:20.341 103.838
7 Mech.
2:17.763 105.781
7 -12 laps
2:18.464 105.246
6 Mech.
2:19.371 104.561
6 Crash
2:19.489 104.472
0 DNS
no time
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Cautions:
Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race :
Fastest qualifier:
104.824 mph, Record
7.268 Seconds
None
#97 Tony Rivera, 2:17.565 (105.934 mph)
#14 James Sofronas, 2:15.860 (107.263 mph)
#23 Borkowski passes #56 Marziale in the Kink
#31 Sonny Whelen advances eight positions
63
World Challenge GT • Round Nine • Road Atlanta
Pilgrim Cruises to GT Win at Road Atlanta
BRASELTON, Ga.(Sept. 25, 2009) –Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., got a great launch at the
start in his all-wheel drive No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60 and never looked back, cruising to his
ninth-career SPEED World Challenge GT win at Road Atlanta, part of the Toyo Tires Road Atlanta
Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network. Eric Curran, of East Hampton, Mass., and Championship
point leader Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach, Calif., completed the podium.
2009 Review
At the race start, Pilgrim’s Volvo looked like it
was shot out of a cannon. The Volvo’s launch
was magnified by the fact that Curran’s No. 30
Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette, which
was righting front of Pilgrim, did not move
at the start. This allowed Pilgrim to take the
early lead – a lead he would never relinquish.
He won by 6.467-seconds over Curran at an
average speed of 103.168 mph.
“The start was just how the Volvo should go,”
Pilgrim said. “I had just enough room to get
by Eric [Curran]without dropping my tires on
the left side. Eric didn’t move. I don’t think
Pilgrim scored his second win of 2009.
helot a very good start. I thought, if Eric got
Shaun Lumley photo.
a good start, he would cover the middle, so I
was already going to go left. I went left and I was gone. I couldn’t believe how good the start was.”
Once underway, Curran had already fallen from second to fifth by the end of lap one. Undaunted
by his poor start, Curran started to pick off cars one-by-one. First, he had to get by the No. 71TRG
Motorsports Mecedes-Benz SLR 722 GT driven by Spencer Pumpelly, of Suwanee,Ga., which took
two and half laps. Two laps later, he passed James Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., in the No.
14 Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3for third.
The next pass Curran looked to makewas on Davis in the No. 10 Applied Comp Solutions/SunMirco
Ford Mustang GT. It ook him seven laps to get it done, but by this time, Curran had used a lot
of his tires. In fact, Curran set the Débaufré fastest race lap, with a 1:27.937(103.983 mph), in
the process. Pilgrim could see Curran coming, but Curran couldn’t catch him and had to settle for
second. It was Curran’s 19th-careerWorld Challenge podium.
Tony Rivera, of Missouri City, Texas, who finished fourth, was engaged in an epic side-by-side battle
with NASCAR star Boris Said, of Carlsbad, Calif. Both drivers swapped paint several times before
Rivera finally got a run on Said coming down the hill in Turn 12 and made it stick. This move earned
Rivera the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
With four laps remaining, Sofronas made a late race pass on Said to finish fifth, while Said finished
sixth.
Jeff Courtney, of Slinger, Wis., was the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing five positions throughout
the race and finished seventh. Tony Gaples, of Libertyville, Ill., Dino Crescentini, of Manhanttan
Beach, Calif., and Pumpelly completed the top-10 respectively.
Davis continues to lead the World Challenge GT Drivers’ Championship, with 919 points. He is
followed by Rivera(857), Sofronas (805), Pilgrim (771) and Curran (719). Porsche continues to lead
in the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine. Porsche has 58points, Ford 49,
Volvo 41, Chevrolet 40, and Viper 18.
64
World Challenge GT • Round Nine • Road Atlanta
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts. Purse Cmp Status Fast Lap Speed
1
4
2
2
132 7500
29
106 4000
29 -6.467
1:27.937** 103.983
3
1
4
6
5
3
6
8
10 Brandon Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang GT
95 3000
29 -24.586
1:28.081 103.813
85 1800
29 -29.3
1:28.445 103.386
89 1700
29 -36.191
1:28.632 103.168
Applied Comp Solution Ford Mustang Cobra
76 1400
29 -39.435
1:28.611 103.192
3 Boris Said/ Carlsbad/CA
1:28.151 103.731
7 12
72 1300
29 -40.617
1:28.663 103.132
8 11
68 1200
29 -51.522
1:29.449 102.225
54
29 -54.422
1:29.258 102.444
9 13
10
7
600
71 Spencer Pumpelly/ Suwanee/GA
TRG Motorsports Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 GT
11 14
11 Mike Davis/ Huntington Beach/CA
Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra 57
800
29 -1:12.102 1:29.703 101.936
12 16
54
700
29 -1:13.789 1:30.046 101.548
51
600
29 -1:19.315 1:30.162 101.417
Lala Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3
48
550
29 -1:19.814 1:29.785 101.843
13 17
14 10
60 1000
29 -1:04.489 1:29.308 102.387
15 15
13 Charles Putman/ Mills/WY
45
500
28 -1 lap
1:29.339 102.351
16 18
20 Nick Esayian/ Encinitas/CA
ACS Express Racing Dodge Viper
43
450
25 -4 laps
1:31.764
99.647
17 19
46 Charles Morgan/ Dallas/TX
TruSpeed Motorsports/Querencia Porsche 911 GT3
41
400
22 Mech.
1:31.385
100.06
18
9
39
19
5
52
5 Engine
1:29.083 102.645
3 Drive Line1:33.608
97.684
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Débaufré race lap:
Fastest qualifier:
42 minutes, 50.323seconds.
103.168mph, Record
6.467Seconds
Laps 1-29, #8 Andy Pilgrim
#30 Eric Curran,1:27.937 (103.983 mph), Record
#1 Randy Pobst,1:26.521 (105.685 mph)
#97 Rivera’s pass on #3 for fourth on lap 24
#99 Jeff Courtney advanced five positions
65
World Challenge GT • Round 10 • Mazda Rcwy Laguna Seca
Sofronas Wins GT Finale At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
2009 Review
MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2009) – James Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., captured
his second SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Championship Presented by Toyo Tires win of
the season, taking the checkered flag at the Applied Computer Solutions Monterey Sports Car
Championship Presented by Bondurant. Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., and Eric Curran, of
Easthampton, Mass., completed the podium
at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Finishing
fourth, Brandon Davis, of Huntington Beach,
Calif., claimed his first World Challenge GT
Championship. Sofronas’ victory handed the
SPEED World Challenge GT Manufacturers’
Championship Presented by RACER Magazine
to Porsche.
Almost as soon as the start lights flickered
off, the yellow flags came out to remove Dino
Crescentini’s No. 4 StopTech/GMG Porsche
911 GT3 from the sand in Turn Three. On
the ensuing lap five restart, second-starting
Sofronas was sandwiched between the No. Davis took a convincing win at the SPEED GT season
finale. SWC/Weber photo
10 Applied Computer Solutions/SunMicro Ford
Mustang GT of Davis and the No. 3 Applied
Computer Solutions Ford Mustang Cobra of Boris Said. Sofornas was not keen on spending any more
time between the teammates, and made his move to the inside of Davis in Turn Two to take the
lead on lap six. The pass earned Sofronas the AutoWeek Move of the Race Award.
“On the start, I just wanted to get away from the line and establish my position,” Sofronas said. “It
was pretty clear that Brandon didn’t want to get in the way or become a part of any mistakes. It
was a calculated move on his part. He just left it open for me and I had to take it there. He knew
he had to win a Championship and he showed that he had the maturity to get it done.”
Sofronas never looked back, taking his third-career win by 4.297 seconds, averaging 82.342 mph.
The Californian set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race in the process, a 1:30.919 (88.615 mph).
After a great start from sixth in the No. 1 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60, Pobst found himself knocking
on the door of the top five throughout the first half of the race.
When Said’s Mustang was turned around on lap 19 in Turn Two, Pobst finally moved into fifth. The
Defending Champion picked up another spot on that lap when Curran got loose through Turn 10,
allowing Pobst to slip by and into fourth. Three laps later, Pobst was around Davis for third and had
his sights set on the No. 97 Tax Masters/Brass Monkey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 of Tony Rivera,
Davis’ only Championship threat.
After hounding Rivera for five laps, Pobst made his move on the final tour of the 11-turn, 2.238-mile
course. While the move in Turn Four gave Pobst the spot, it sent Rivera spinning into the gravel,
where his race would end. Pobst was later fined 20 points for the incident. Curran was far enough
back in the No. 30 Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette to avoid the incident and finish third.
Bringing his Mustang home in fourth, Davis secured his very first World Challenge GT Drivers’
Championship, taking the title by 81 points over Sofronas (1012 to 931). Rivera fell to third, sitting
in the gravel, and finished with 910 points, followed by Andy Pilgrim (851) and Curran (811).
Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., completed the top five in the No. 8 K-PAX Racing Volvo S60. Rob
Morgan was named the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing seven positions in the race.
66
World Challenge GT • Round 10 • Mazda Rcwy Laguna Seca
Fn. St. CarLaps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts. PurseCmp Status Fast Lap Speed
1
2
2
6
14 James Sofronas/Newport Beach/CA
1 Randy Pobst/Gainesville/GA
126 7500
28
1:30.919
88.615
100 4000
28 -4.297
1:31.292
3
8
30 Eric Curran/Easthampton/MA
88.253
92 3000
28 -9.864
1:31.220
4
1
10 Brandon Davis/Huntington Beach/CA Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang GT
88.322
93 1800
28 -11.175
1:31.060
88.478
5 11
8 Andy Pilgrim/Boca Raton/FL
80 1700
28 -14.131
1:31.024
88.513
6 12
9 Gunter Schaldach/Aspen/CO
Lala Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3
76 1400
28 -17.722
1:31.658
87.900
7 14
47 Rob Morgan/Costa Mesa/CA
72 1300
28 -23.917
1:31.872
87.696
8 13
13 Charles Putman/Mills/WY
68 1200
28 -29.996
1:31.803
87.761
9
31 Sonny Whelen/Old Saybrook/CT
64 1100
28 -31.434
1:31.674
87.885
10 15
34 Tony Gaples/Libertyville/IL
60 1000
28 -32.514
1:32.178
87.404
11 10
99 Jeff Courtney/Slinger/WI
57
800
28 -1:04.707 1:30.995
88.541
12 18
46 Charles Morgan/Dallas/TX
TruSpeed Motorsports/Querencia Porsche 911 GT3
54
700
28 -1:07.724 1:33.525
86.146
13 16
11 Mike Davis/Huntington Beach/CA
Applied Comp Solution/SunMicro Ford Mustang Cobra 51
600
28 -1:10.744 1:33.031
86.603
14 20
20 Tomy Drissi/Los Angeles/CA
Avatar/ACS Express Racing Dodge Viper
48
550
28 -1:11.121 1:33.125
86.516
Applied Computer Solution Ford Mustang Cobra
60
500
28 -1:15.165 1:31.331
88.215
9
15
5
16
7
49 Kip Olson(R)/Sacramento/CA
Driving Ambitions Acura NSX
43
450
28 -1:24.249 1:31.932
87.638
17
4
97 Tony Rivera/Missouri City/TX
53
400
27 Off Course1:31.357
88.190
18
3
4 Dino Crescentini/Manhattan Beach/CA Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3
48
375
27 -1 lap
1:31.047
88.490
5 William Ziegler(R)/Jacksonville/FL
37
350
16 Mech.
1:32.918
86.708
19 17
3 Boris Said/Carlsbad/CA
20 21
96 Paul Brown/Covina/CA
K&N Filters/Lucas Oil/G Stream Mustang GT
35
8 Elect.
1:33.495
86.173
21 19
64 Chad Raynal(R)/San Jose/CA
Raynal Racing RWR CAR Cadillac CTS-V
33
5 Crash
1:34.352
85.390
Race Statistics
Margin of victory: 4.297Seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-10, #10 Brandon Davis
Laps 5-28, #14 James Sofronas
Débaufré race lap: #14 James Sofronas, 1:30.919 (88.615 mph)
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #14 Sofronas pass on #10 for the lead on lap six
Sunoco Hard Charger: #47 Rob Morgan advanced seven positions
67
WORLD CHALLENGE GT CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 SEASON-AT-A-GLANCE
DATE
CIRCUIT
RACE
DISTANCE
(MILES)
No.
OF
ENT.
No.
OF
QUAL.
No.
OF
ST.
No.
OF
FIN.
MARGIN
OF VIC.
(SEC.)
No.
LEAD
CHANGE
March 20
Sebring
74
20
23
22
21
17
2.049
2
April 19
Long Beach
57.072
29
27
25
24
24
2.430
2
May 2
New Jersey
67.5
30
11
11
12
11
0.433
0
May 16
Mosport
73.77
30
13
12
13
13
0.682
1
July 4
Watkins Glen
74.8
22
11
11
11
11
0.255*
2
July 26
Autobahn
56.96
16
21
20
19
19
1.793*
3
August 9
Mid-Ohio
65.481
29
16
15
16
16
1.396
0
76.911
19
18
16
17
17
7.268
1
August 16 Road America
Sept. 25
Road Atlanta
73.66
October 11 Mazda Raceway 62.664
2009 Review
No.
OF
LAPS
29
19
19
19
19
6.467
1
28
21
21
21
21
4.297
2
Total
682.818
252
180
172
173
168
Average
68.2818
25.2
18
17.2
17.3
16.8
27.07
2.707
14
1.4
* Denotes Track Record
WORLD CHALLENGE GT CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 DRIVERS’ SCORECARD
CIRCUIT
WINNER
Sebring Tony Rivera WINNER’S
Speed
(MPH)
93.488 FASTEST
QUALIFIER
Speed
(MPH)
FASTEST
RACE LAP
Dino Crescentini
102.282 Tony Rivera 101.224
Long Beach James Sofronas 73.686 Randy Pobst 83.098 New Jersey Andy Pilgrim 83.835 Andy Pilgrim 96.760* Andy Pilgrim Mosport Jason Daskalos Brandon Davis 106.170 Andy Pilgrim 104.385
Watkins Glen Dino Crescentini 104.877* Brandon Davis 106.008 Dino Crescentini 106.114
Autobahn Randy Pobst 67.295*
James Sofronas 87.207* Randy Pobst Mid-Ohio Brandon Davis 91.677 Brandon Davis 93.977 Tony Rivera 92.392
Road America
Tony Rivera 104.824* James Sofronas 107.263 Tony Rivera 105.934
Road Atlanta Andy Pilgrim 103.168*
Randy Pobst 105.685 Eric Curran 103.983*
Mazda Raceway James Sofronas 103.485*
82.342* Boris Said 89.939 Andy Pilgrim Speed
(MPH)
James Sofronas 81.674
95.357*
85.986*
88.615
* - Denotes Track Record
68
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE GT DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
(Starting Position) Finishing Position
Ps. Driver, Car
Pts. Purse SEB LBC NJMP MOS
WGI AUB
1012 $32,300 (5) 3 (2) 3 (3) 3 (1) 2 (1) 8 (6) 2
1 Brandon Davis, Ford Mustang GT
931 $28,300 (4) 5 (4) 1** (4) 6 (9) 9 (3) 3* (1) 6
2 James Sofronas, Porsche 911 GT3
910 $30,200 (3) 1* (6) 7 (5) 5 (7) 3 (9) 7 (3) 5*
3 Tony Rivera, Porsche 911 GT3
4 Andy Pilgrim, Volvo S60
851 $24,600 (20)12 (3) 6 (1) 1** (3) 4 (7) 5 (4) 4
811 $25,100 (2) 2**(7) 2 DSQ (2) 5 (2) 2 (7)17
5 Eric Curran, Chevrolet Corvette
776 $21,900 DNS (1) 8 (2) 2 (5) 8 (6) 4 (2) 1**
6 Randy Pobst, Volvo S60
568 $8,600 (24) 4 (17) 9 (8) 7 (11)12
-
(12)19
7 Tony Gaples, Chevrolet Corvette
8 Sonny Whelen, Chevrolet Corvette
562 $6,800 (10)11(18)22 (9) 8 (8) 7 (8)10 (16)11
558 $14,600 (1)17* DNS
-
(6) 6 (4) 1** (5)15
9 Dino Crescentini, Porsche 911 GT3
10 William Ziegler(R), Porsche 911 GT3
552 $5,650 (16) 8 (13)12(12)11 (13)13 (11)11 (13)10
11 Gunter Schaldach, Porsche 911 GT3
457 $6,325 DSQ DNS (7) 4 (12)10 (10) 9 (8)18
441 $7,100 DSQ (15)10 -
(10)11
-
(15) 8
12 Jeff Courtney, Dodge Viper
13 Jason Daskalos, Dodge Viper
402 $12,300 (6)19 (8) 5
-
(4) 1** (5) 6
-
14 Rob Morgan, Porsche 911 GT3
291 $4,300 (12)13(10)15 -
-
-
(11) 7
209 $2,450 (9)18 (14)14 -
-
-
-
15 Ritch Marziale, Dodge Viper
16 Mike Davis, Ford Mustang Cobra
201 $3,200 -
(5) 4*
-
-
-
-
17 Brian Kubinski, Chevrolet Corvette
189 $4,150 (7)16
-
-
-
-
(9) 3
18 Charles Putman, Dodge Viper
185 $3,000 -
-
-
-
-
-
146 $1,700 -
-
-
-
-
(18)13
19 Charles Morgan, Porsche 911 GT3
20 Joey Scarallo, Pontiac GTO
141 $1,600 (25) 9 (20)24(11)10
-
-
-
21 Boris Said, Ford Mustang Cobra
136 $1,900 -
-
-
-
-
-
22 Mike Borkowski, Dodge Viper
120 $1,850 -
-
-
-
-
DNS
23 Mike Hartley, Dodge Viper
115 $1,700 -
-
(10) 9
-
-
-
24 David Welch(R), Dodge Viper
109 $1,650 (14) 7 (12)19 -
-
-
-
25 Spencer Pumpelly, Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 108 $1,550 -
-
-
-
-
(14)14
26 Galen Bieker(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
105 $2,700 - (19)13 -
-
-
(19)12
27 Tim McKenzie, Porsche 911 GT3
88
$950 (8)15
-
-
-
-
(10)16
28 Andrew Aquilante, Chevrolet Corvette
76 $1,400 (13) 6
-
-
-
-
-
29 Nick Mancuso(R), Aston Martin DB9
64 $1,100 -
-
-
-
-
(17) 9
30 Lee Saunders(R), Dodge Viper
60 $1,000 (17)10 -
-
-
-
-
31 Kuno Wittmer, Dodge Viper
60
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
32 Craig Stanton(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
57 $3,000 -
(9)11
-
-
-
-
33 Steve Valentinetti(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
48
$550 (18)14 -
-
-
-
-
34 Tomy Drissi, Dodge Viper
48
$550 -
-
-
-
-
-
35 Robert Rodriguez(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup 43 $1,000 - (24)16 -
-
-
DNS
36 Nick Esayian, Dodge Viper
43
$450 -
-
-
-
-
-
37 Kip Olson(R), Acura NSX
43
$450 -
-
-
-
-
-
38 Bret Curtis(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
41
$400 - (23)17 -
-
-
-
39 Patrick Flanagan(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
39
$375 DNS (25)18 -
-
-
-
40 Wesley Hoaglund(G), Porsche GT3 Cup
35
$300 - (21)20 -
-
-
-
41 Paul Brown, Mustang GT
35
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
42 Rob Foster, Dodge Viper
33
$0 - (11)21 -
-
-
-
43 Chad Raynal(R), Cadillac CTS-V
33
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
44 Kyle Foster(R), Chevrolet Corvette
29
$0 - (22)23 -
-
-
-
45 Joe Foster, Lotus Exige S
0
$0 DNS
-
-
-
-
-
46 Dan Pastorini(R), Lamborghini Gallardo
0
$0 DNS
-
-
-
-
-
47 Chip Herr, Lamborghini Gallardo
0
$0 -
DNS
-
-
-
-
Total Purse: $267,050. Includes points fund and contingency awards.
Only drivers scoring points are listed.
*- Lap led (point)
**- Most laps led (point)
Qualifying Points: Pole (10), 2nd (8), 3rd (6), 4th (4), 5th (2)
MOH RAM RAT
LAG
(1) 1** (4) 4 (5) 3 (5) 4*
(3) 3 (1)15 (3) 5 (4) 1**
(4) 2 (3) 1** (6) 4 (2)17
(2)15 (8)16 (2) 1** (11) 5
(6)16 (5) 2 (4) 2 (8) 3
(16) 4 (7) 6 (1)19 (6) 2
(11) 8 (16)10 (11) 8 (15)10
(14)10 (17) 9 (9)18 (9) 9
(5) 5 (6) 3 (13) 9 (3)18
(9)11 (13)11 (16)12 (17)19
(12) 9 (10)17 (10)14 (12) 6
(10) 6 (12)13 (12) 7 (10)11
-
(11) 5
-
-
-
(17)13 (14) 7
(7)12 (15) 8
-
-
-
(14)11 (16)13
-
(14)12
-
(8) 7
-
(15)15 (13) 8
-
-
(19)17 (18)12
-
-
-
-
-
(8) 6 (1)15
(13)14 (9) 7
-
(15)13
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(7)10
-
DNS
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2)14
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(20)14
-
-
-
-
-
(18)16
-
-
-
(7)16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(21)20
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19)21
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Key: SEB - Sebring International Raceway, LBC - Long Beach Grand Prix, NJMP - New Jersey Motorsports Park, MOS - Mosport, WGI - Watkins
Glen International, AUB - Autobahn Country Club, MOH - Mid Ohio, RAM - Road America, RAT - Road Atlanta, MRLS - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
69
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE GT
MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Finishing Position
Pos.
Manufacturer
Points
SEB LBC NJM
MOS
WGI
AUB
MOH
RAM
RAT
LAG
1
Porsche
67
1*
1
5
3
1
5*
2
1*
4
1
2
Ford
53
3
3
3
2*
8*
2
1*
4
3
4*
3
Volvo
48
12
6*
1*
4
4
1
4
6
1*
2
4
Chevrolet
45
2
2
7
5
2
3
8
2
2
3
5
Viper
18
7
5
4
1
6
8
6
5
7
8
* Denotes pole position point
2009 Review
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE GT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ps. Driver, Car Pts. Purse
SEB
LBC NJMP MOS
WGI
AUB MOH
1 William Ziegler(R), Porsche 911 GT3 552
$5,650 (16) 8 (13)12(12)11 (13)13 (11)11 (13)10 (9)11
2 David Welch(R), Dodge Viper
109
$1,650 (14) 7 (12)19 -
-
-
-
-
3 Galen Bieker(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup105
$2,700 -
(19)13 -
-
-
(19)12
-
4 Nick Mancuso(R), Aston Martin DB9 64
$1,100 -
-
-
-
-
(17) 9
-
5 Lee Saunders(R), Dodge Viper
60
$1,000 (17)10
-
-
-
-
-
-
6 Robert Rodriguez(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup43
$1,000 -
(24)16 -
-
-
DNS
-
7 Kip Olson(R), Acura NSX
43
$450 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
8 Bret Curtis(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup 41
$400 -
(23)17 -
-
-
-
-
9 Patrick Flanagan(R)(G), Porsche GT3 Cup39
$375 DNS (25)18 -
-
-
-
-
10 Chad Raynal(R), Cadillac CTS-V
33
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
11 Kyle Foster(R), Chevrolet Corvette 29
$0 -
(22)23 -
-
-
-
-
RAM
RAT MRLS
(13)11 (16)12 (17)19
-
-
DNS
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(7)16
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19)21
-
-
-
Key: SEB - Sebring International Raceway, LBC - Long Beach Grand Prix, NJMP - New Jersey Motorsports Park, MOS - Mosport, WGI - Watkins
Glen International, AUB - Autobahn Country Club, MOH - Mid Ohio, RAM - Road America, RAT - Road Atlanta, MRLS - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
70
World Challenge TC • Round One • Sebring Int’l Raceway
Thomas Claims Maiden Victory in TC Season Opener
SEBRING, Fla. (March 20, 2009) – Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., capitalized on a tremendous
start from the front row to take his first-ever SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car win
in the Toyo Tires SCCA SPEED World Challenge Season Opener at Sebring, part of the Mobil 1 12
Hours of Sebring Presented by Fresh From Florida. Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., and
Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, completed the podium.
2009 Review
Starting second, Thomas’s No. 38 BimmerWorld/
GearWrench BMW 328i immediately leapt to
the front as the World Challenge Touring Car
field launched from its signature standing
start. Thomas’ start line reflexes earned him
the AutoWeek Move of the Race. Polesitter
Kleinubing and his RealTime Racing teammate
Kuno Wittmer fell into line behind Thomas and
gave chase as the pack funneled into Turn One.
“I didn’t expect that kind of advantage going
into Turn One,” Thomas said. “The BMWs have
rear-wheel drive and they launch really well
off the start. Pierre [Kleinubing] has a lot of
Thomas got the holeshot and cruised to victory.
experience starting up there and I expected
Mark Weber photo.
him to be tough and get a little better launch.
The way it worked out, I went into the brake zone for Turn One and looked in the mirror and saw
the gap. I just thought ‘just maintain that and see what we can do.’”
The RealTime pair’s efforts were in vain, as Thomas’s gap was already at 1.280 seconds by lap
three. While Thomas continued to click off fast laps around the 17-turn, 3.7-mile road course,
including the quickest lap of the race, a 2:24.044 (92.471 mph), Kleinubing lost his drafting partner
on lap seven, when Wittmer pulled off course with mechanical problems.
Sticking to the plan and maintaining his gap back to the 2008 Sebring race winner for the remainder
of the 18-lap, 66.6-mile race, Thomas cruised to his very first World Challenge victory by 2.563
seconds.
On his own, once teammate Wittmer dropped out, Kleinubing finished second, ruing his start-line
slip up.
Saini, the 2008 World Challenge Touring Car Rookie of the Year, started fifth, but was immediately
promoted to fourth when teammate Charles Espenlaub, pulled into the pit lane on the formation
lap with a throttle issue. Once the race was underway, Saini came under threat from the No. 97
MAZDASPEED/Tindol Motorsports MAZDA6 of Chip Herr, from Lititz, Pa. Herr took over the fourth
spot on lap three in Turn One, but pulled into pit lane two laps later when the engine of his Mazda
expired.
Unable to catch Kleinubing, and without any challengers to his third-place spot, Saini claimed the
final step on the podium at Sebring. Rookie Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, made a stunning World
Challenge debut in the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6. Starting 12th, Foss was
able to claw his way to ninth on the opening lap. The 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5
Cup Champion then battled some of the series’ fiercest competitors, including defending Champion
Peter Cunningham, Michael Galati and James Clay, en route to a hard-earned fourth-place finish.
Foss’ climb through the field, a full eight positions, won him the Sunoco Hard Charger Award.
Nick Esayian, of San Diego, Calif., completed the top five, collecting a career-high finish in the
process.
72
World Challenge TC • Round One • Sebring Int’l Raceway
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
2
38 Seth Thomas/ Cumming/GA
BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i
132
9500
2
1
42 Pierre Kleinubing/ Coconut Creek/FL
Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX
115
3
5
74 Jason Saini/ Ft. Worth/TX
MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6
95
4 12
75 Eric Foss(R)/ Fort Worth/TX
5
7
34 Nick Esayian/ San Diego/CA
6
8
18
2:24.044
92.471
10200
18 -2.563
2:24.403
92.241
6500
18 -4.502
2:24.732
92.032
85
5300
18 -10.946
2:24.649
92.085
80
2000
18 -19.29
2:24.986
91.871
36 James Clay/ Blacksburg/VA
76
1300
18 -19.735
2:24.695
92.055
7 10
95 Michael Galati/ Olmsted/OH
Mazda North America/Tindol Mazda6
72
1200
18 -35.289
2:25.652
91.450
8 11
35 Andrew Aquilante/ Phoenixville/PA
Phoenix Performance Inc. Subaru WRX
68
1100
18 -37.278
2:25.189
91.742
1 Peter Cunningham/ Milwaukee/WI
64
3000
18 -44.908
2:24.980
91.874
9
9
10 14
60
2900
18 -1:03.289 2:27.366
90.387
11 13
43 Toby Grahovec/ Chicago/IL
57
800
18 -1:03.566 2:26.655
90.825
12
4
73 Charles Espenlaub/ Lutz/FL
60
700
17 -1 lap
2:26.488
90.929
13
3
60
600
9 Mech.
2:24.234
92.350
14
6
97 Chip Herr/ Lititz/PA
MAZDASPEED/Tindol Motorsports Mazda6
48
550
5 Mech.
2:24.409
92.238
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Débaufré Fastest Lap of The Race:
Fastest qualifier:
Cautions:
91.708 mph
2.563 Seconds
Laps 1-18, #38 Seth Thomas
#38 Seth Thomas, 2:24.044 (92.471 mph)
#42 Pierre Kleinubing, 2:22.598 (93.409 mph)
#75 Eric Foss advanced eight positions
#38 Seth Thomas’ start
None
73
World Challenge TC • Round Two • New Jersey
Saini Scores World Challenge TC Win in New Jersey
MILLVILLE, N.J. (May 2, 2009) – Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, captured his second-career
SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car win Saturday at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s
Thunderbolt Raceway. Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and Andrew Aquilante, of
Phoenixville, Pa., completed the top three.
Starting third in the No. 74 MAZDASPEED/
Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6, Saini moved to
second at the standing start behind first-starting
Cunningham and his No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red
Line Oil Acura TSX. On lap three, Saini moved
to the inside going into Turn One and took the
position from the defending series Champion.
2009 Review
Saini’s lead was not safe until a spirited
late-race battle between Cunningham and
Aquilante’s No. 35 Phoenix Performance Inc.
Subaru WRX allowed him to pull out to a
2.967-second advantage at the checkered
flag. Saini averaged 87.269 mph in the 27-lap,
60.75-mile race that went caution free.
Saini took the lead on lap four and never looked back.
Mark Weber photo.
“We went through a couple of turns and got behind Peter,” Saini said. “I looked at where his
strengths and weaknesses were and tried to push him. I tried to stick the nose in every once and
a while to see. I just had a bit of a stronger car at that point and I was able to get down on the
inside. I tried one time. I didn’t make it stick. I tried again and it did.
It was the 2008 Rookie of the Year’s second-career win. He previously won at Miller Motorsports
Park in May 2008.
Cunningham qualified fifth, but started first after the top five was inverted with a post-qualifying
coin flip. On lap 25, Aquilante pulled to the inside on the front straightaway and the two ran
side-by-side through Turn One, with the Acura hanging on to the position.
Cunningham’s effort around the outside of Turn One on lap 25 earned him the AutoWeek Move of
the Race.
In just his third start, Aquilante earned his first-career World Challenge podium and the first
podium for Subaru in World Challenge. Moving from eighth on the grid to third on lap one with the
assistance of the Subaru’s all-wheel drive, Aquilante earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for
advancing five positions in the race.
Canadian Kuno Wittmer, who won the pole in his No. 44 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX
but started fifth with the inversion, ran fourth the entire race, just holding off teammate Pierre
Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., at the finish. Kleinubing set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race
in his No. 42 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX with a 1:31.961 (88.080 mph).
Sebring winner Seth Thomas didn’t make Turn One, when a halfshaft snapped on his No. 38
BimmerWorld/Gear Wrench BMW 328i at the standing start. Thomas had qualified second to start
fourth following the inversion.
With his win, Saini moved to the World Challenge Touring Car point lead, with 224. Kleinubing is
second, with 195, followed by Thomas (192), Cunningham (172) and Foss (161). Acura leads the
Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER, with 16, followed by Mazda, with 14 and BMW,
with 9.
74
World Challenge TC • Round Two • New Jersey
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
3
2
1
3
8
4
5
5
6
129
13500
27
1:32.140
87.909
108
10200
27 -2.967
1:32.080
87.967
92
2500
27 -3.496
1:32.071
87.975
100
5200
27 -5.895
1:32.483
87.583
80
4500
27 -6.210
1:31.961
88.080
6 10
76
3800
27 -11.364
1:32.290
87.766
7
7
72
1200
27 -23.379
1:32.398
87.664
8 11
68
3100
27 -34.052
1:33.179
86.929
9
64
1000
27 -1:17.608 1:34.606
85.618
10 15
62 Alex Ratcliffe(R)/ Berryville/VA
Lab Rescue/Hawk Brakes Lexus IS300
60
900
26 -1 lap
1:36.072
84.311
11
63
800
26 -1 lap
1:32.649
87.426
12 13
49 Carl Hober/ Cape May/NJ
Supertech Competition Clutch Acura TSX
54
700
26 -1 lap
1:38.749
82.026
13 12
99 Matt Lang(R)/ Bedminster/NJ
Olsen Technologies/Synapse Dodge SRT 4
51
600
13 Mech.
1:36.363
84.057
14
60
0 Mech.
no time
9
2
4
Race Statistics
Lap leaders: Laps 1-3, #1 Peter Cunningham
Laps 4-27, #74 Jason Saini
Débaufré Fastest race lap: #42 Pierre Kleinubing, 1:31.961 (88.080 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #44 Kuno Wittmer, 1:31.991 (88.052 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #35 Andrew Aquilante
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #1 Cunningham
Cautions: None
Note: Top five qualifiers inverted with coin flip
75
World Challenge TC • Round Three • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Kuno Wittmer Dominates Touring Car Race One at Mosport
CANADA (May 16, 2009) – Montreal’s Kuno Wittmer got the jump on the SCCA Pro Racing
World Challenge Touring Car field at the standing start on a damp track and never looked back to
dominate Saturday’s portion of a doubleheader weekend at Mosport International Raceway, part of
the Victoria Day Speedfest. Teammates Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., and Nick Wittmer,
of Montreal, completed the podium.
2009 Review
When the lights went out for the standing start,
second starting Wittmer had the path to Turn
One cleared for his No. 44 Acura/RealTime/Red
Line Acura TSX as polesitter Eric Foss’ No. 75
sat motionless on the grid, watching the rest
of the field speed by. Having just run a race on
the wet track in a similar car, Wittmer used his
knowledge of the course conditions to pull out
two to three seconds per lap on the opening
several laps. By lap five, he was 10 seconds
ahead of Kleinubing, who was struggling to
find the grip.
Wittmer splashed his way to a huge lead early.
Mark Weber photo.
In his World Challenge Touring Car debut, Kuno Wittmer’s younger brother Nick started from 11th,
and last, on the grid in his No. 45 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Acura TSX. He also benefitted from
running the earlier race and sliced through the pack to fourth on the opening lap. On lap 13 of the
28-lap, 68.852-mile contest, Nick moved up to second making it a Wittmer brothers one-two. By
then, Kuno Wittmer held a 20-second lead.
As the track slowly dried in the second half of the race, the battle for second heated up between
Nick Wittmer, point leader Jason Saini’s No. 74 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6 and
Kleinubing. The trio ran in that order, setting fastest race laps throughout the closing stages of the
race, until Kleinubing moved to third on lap 26. This set up a battle between teammates Kleinubing
and Wittmer in the final two laps.
On the last lap, Kleinubing got inside of Nick Wittmer in Turn Four, the two bumped and slid sideways
down the hill to Turn Five. When the dust settled, Kleinubing had the position. Kuno Wittmer sped
away to a comfortable fourth-career victory by 19.035 seconds, averaging 81.598 mph.
“The race before definitely helped us find the rain line right away,” Kuno Wittmer said. “Given that in
the other championship we’re running, they run the same tire, it helped. The start was great – even
though we were on the race line where it is usually of greasy. Eric [Foss] bobbled a bit and I got
myself over on the grippy stuff. Once we got going, I went through the gears and found my pace.”
Kleinubing’s pass for second on the final lap netted him the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
Nick Wittmer finished a popular third, sharing the podium with his older brother in his first World
Challenge start. He earned the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing eight positions in the race.
After running third the majority of the race, Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, recovered from a late-race
off to hold on to fourth and maintain the Championship point lead. Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee,
Wis., completed the top five in his No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX.
Heading into Sunday’s Round Four race, Saini holds an 11-point advantage over Kleinubing (312 to
301), followed by Kuno Wittmer (292) and a three-way tie for fourth between Thomas, Cunningham
and Foss, with 252. Acura’s sweep of the podium extended its World Challenge Touring Car
Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine lead to seven over Mazda, 25 to 18.
BMW is third, with nine.
76
World Challenge TC • Round Three • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Fn. St. Car
Sponsor/Car
Purse
1
2
2
4
15500
Laps
During Race
Cmp Status
Fast Lap
28
1:45.872
Speed
83.614
10200
28 -19.035
1:45.155
84.184
3 11
45 Nick Wittmer/ Montreal/CN
7500
28 -20.029
1:45.386
83.999
4
5
5
7
5200
28 -23.635
1:45.478
83.926
4500
28 -49.464
1:44.760
84.501
6
1
3800
28 -1:00.531 1:44.366
84.820
7
6
1200
28 -1:40.993 1:46.465
83.148
8 10
3100
27 -1 lap
1:47.687
82.205
9
3
1000
27 -1 lap
1:49.555
80.803
10
8
900
26 -2 laps
1:50.678
79.983
11
9
800
25 -3 laps
1:56.439
76.026
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Fastest qualifier:
Cautions:
81.598 mph
19.035 Seconds
Laps 1-28, #44 Kuno Wittmer
#75 Eric Foss(R), 1:44.366 (84.820 mph)
#75 Eric Foss(R), 1:34.056 (94.118 mph)
#45 Nick Wittmer advanced eight positions
#42 Pierre Kleinubing pass for second
None
77
World Challenge TC • Round Four • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Cunningham Takes Touring Car Part Two at Mosport
CANADA (May 17, 2009) – Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., captured his record-extending
32nd World Challenge win Sunday, taking the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car
Championship Round Four race, part of the Victoria Day Speedfest at Mosport International
Raceway. Charles Espenlaub, of Lutz, Fla., and Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, completed the
podium.
Driving the No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil
Acura TSX, Cunningham started first after the
top five qualifiers were inverted on the grid
following the Fast Five coin toss. He withstood
a number of challenges from the TriPoint
Mazda team throughout the race to score his
first win since the 2007 season finale at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca.
2009 Review
Cunningham beat Espenlaub across the finish
line by 0.564-second, averaging 95.691 mph
over the 28-lap, 68.852-mile race.
Cunningham’s first challenge came from
Wittmer turned in a convincing victory at Lime Rock
pole-winning driver Eric Foss, who rocketed
Park. SWC/Weber photo
from fifth starting spot in the No. 75
MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6 to second by Turn Three and side-by-side with
Cunningham in Turn Eight.
“At the end of that first lap, Eric Foss got a great run and kind of passed me on the outside of Turn
Eight,” Cunningham said. “We were door-to-door and then he was a little bit ahead. I don’t know
if I understeered into him or if he was coming down toward me, but we just went ‘tink’ and it was
just enough for him to go around. It was the only bad thing that happened in the race. I feel bad
for that.”
Espenlaub and Saini ran nose-to-tail in their identical Mazdas behind Cunningham, applying
pressure early before Cunningham was able to pull out a two-second lead by mid-race.
In the closing stages, Espenlaub’s car came to him and he began to reel in the leader, setting the
Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race with a 1:31.686 (96.551 mph) in the process. On the final lap,
Espenlaub tried to out-brake Cunningham into Turn Eight, but couldn’t get close enough.
Espenlaub’s run was his best of the season in the No. 73 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart
MAZDA6 and his first podium finish in nearly two years.
Saini started second in the No. 74 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6, but watched
teammates Espenlaub and Foss go by on the first lap. Once Foss was off track, Saini stayed on
Espenlaub’s bumper in third for the duration of the race to collect his third podium finish in four
races.
Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., emerged atop the race-long battle for fourth in his No. 38
BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i, earning the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing four
positions in the race. He was followed across the stripe by Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla.,
and his No. 42 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX. Foss was presented the AutoWeek Move of
the Race award for his outstanding start.
Saini extended his Driver’s Championship lead to 17 points over Kleinubing (410-393), followed by
Cunningham (375), Wittmer (368) and Thomas (337). Acura extended its point lead in the World
Challenge Touring Car Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine to 12, with 34
points to Mazda’s 26 and BMW’s 12.
78
World Challenge TC • Round Four • Mosport Int’l Raceway
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
1
2
3
3
2
4
123
15500
28
1:31.710
96.526
109
98
8200
28 -0.564
1:31.686
96.551
6500
28 -3.852
1:31.705
8
96.531
85
2700
28 -9.024
1:32.027
5
4
96.193
92
4500
28 -9.231
1:31.789
6
7
96.443
76
3800
28 -11.615
1:32.030
96.190
7 11
45 Nick Wittmer/ Montreal/CN
72
3200
28 -17.962
1:32.046
96.173
8 10
68
1100
28 -18.338
1:31.808
96.423
9
5
79
1000
28 -1:20.375 1:31.843
96.386
10
9
60
2900
23 Mech.
1:32.644
95.552
11
6
57
0 Mech.
no time
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Fastest qualifier:
Sunoco Hared Charger:
Cautions:
95.691 mph
0.564-Second
Laps 1-28, #1 Peter Cunningham
#73 Charles Espenlaub, 1:31.686 (96.551 mph)
#75 Eric Foss(R), 1:30.925 (97.359 mph)
#38 Seth Thomas advanced four positions
#75 Eric Foss’ attempt at the lead on lap one
None
79
World Challenge TC • Round Five • Watkins Glen
World Challenge TC Race at The Glen Goes to Seth Thomas
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (July 4, 2009) – Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., took his second SCCA
Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car win of the season in the Toyo Tires Watkins Glen Grand
Prix Presented by Lala Motorsports. Charles Espenlaub, of Lutz, Fla., and Andrew Aquilante, of
Phoenixville, Pa., completed the Round Five podium during the Camping World Grand Prix Weekend
at Watkins Glen International.
2009 Review
Starting from his first-ever World Challenge
pole position, Thomas successfully defended
his lead on the standing start as the field
charged into Turn One. Thomas’ teammate,
third-starting Nick Esayian, of San Diego,
Calif., was able to slot into second. Seeing a
friendly car in his rear-view mirror was a relief
for Thomas, but the feeling was short-lived, as
the No. 73 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/ProParts
MAZDA6 of Espenlaub was around Esayian in
Turn Eight.
“The BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW always
gets the holeshot,” Thomas said. “It’s a great
Chip Herr took home the second half of a Lime Rock
rear-wheel drive platform to get going at the
Park doubleheader. SWC/Weber photo
start. When I saw Charles coming, I knew how
fast Nick’s been all weekend and I knew how fast Charles’ been this weekend, so for him to get by
Nick as early as he did, I was concerned. I’ve raced with him year after year and every time we do,
it’s clean, fun racing, but I was definitely worried to see him coming up behind me.”
The gap between Thomas’ No. 38 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i and Espenlaub ebbed and
flowed throughout the 20-lap, 68-mile race as the pair pulled away from the rest of the field.
Thomas finally got some breathing room on the last two laps, as Aquilante, in the No. 35 Phoenix
Performance Subaru Impreza WRX caught Espenlaub. While the pair exchanged positions in the
closing corners, Thomas sailed away to the checkered flag, getting his second-career victory by
1.118 seconds and averaging 95.847 mph.
Behind Thomas, Aquilante powered past Espenlaub heading into the Inner Loop, but was quickly
re-passed by Espenlaub in Turn Six. The move earned Espenlaub the AutoWeek Move of the Race
and his highest finish of the season.
The runner-up finish also propelled Mazda to within three points of Acura, which leads the
Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine (36 to 33 points). MW is currently
third in the points with 22.
Aquilante collected his second third-place finish in three World Challenge Touring Car races. During
his charge from fifth on the grid to third, Aquilante set the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race, a
2:06.565 (95.847 mph), and earned a new Débaufré watch. Aquilante also collected the Sunoco
Hard Charger award for advancing two positions in the race.
After running third for most of the race, Esayian crossed the finish line a career-high fourth in the
No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i.
Peter Cunningham, of the Milwaukee, Wis., was the highest finishing Acura in the field, bringing his
No. 1 RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX home in fifth.
Saini’s Championship lead is now cut to three points over Kleinubing (478 to 475). Seth Thomas is
now third with 472 points, followed by Cunningham (455) and Wittmer (440).
80
World Challenge TC • Round Five • Watkins Glen
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
1
135
9500
20
2:06.892
96.460
2
2
MazdaSpeed/Stoptech/ProParts MAZDA6
112
8200
20 -1.118
2:06.992
96.384
3
5
95
2500
20 -1.401
2:06.565
96.709
4
3
94
2700
20 -2.195
2:06.947
96.418
5
7
80
4500
20 -8.766
2:06.884
96.466
6
4
82
3800
20 -9.172
2:06.874
96.473
7
9
72
3200
20 -13.181
2:07.093
96.307
8
8
68
1100
20 -13.926
2:07.198
96.228
9
6
64
1000
20 -14.846
2:07.097
96.304
10 10
60
2900
20 -21.496
2:07.519
95.985
11 12
57
800
20 -21.803
2:07.155
96.260
12 11
26 VJ Mirzayan(R)/ Fresno/CA
Tractive/KMS/CP/Arrow BMW 325
54
700
20 -1:29.919 2:11.164
93.318
32 John Heinricy(TC2)/ Royal Oak/MI
Phoenix Performance Inc. Subaru Legacy
13 13
0 DNS
no time
Race Statistics
Lap leaders: Laps 1-20, #38 Seth Thomas
Cautions: None
Débaufré race lap: #35 Andrew Aquilante, 2:06.565 (96.709 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #38 Seth Thomas, 2:06.803 (96.527 mph)
AutoWeek Move of the Year: #73 Espenlaub’s pass for second on the final lap
Sunoco Hard Charger: #35 Aquilante advanced two positions
81
World Challenge TC • Round Six • Autobahn Country Club
Saini All the Way for Autobahn World Challenge Touring Win
JOLIET, Ill. (July 26, 2009) – Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, led from pole to checkers to
take his second SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car win of the season in the Grand Prix
at Autobahn Presented by Mazda. Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and Pierre Kleinubing, of
Coconut Creek, Fla., completed the top three.
2009 Review
Part of the Harrah’s Autobahn Grand Prix
Presented by Mazda weekend, the 17-lap,
60.52-mile race began with its trademark
standing start and polesitter Saini getting the
jump in his No. 74 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/
ProParts MAZDA6. Saini led a two-car Tri-Point
Motorsports breakaway, with teammate Eric
Foss in tow in the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/
Stoptech/ProParts MAZDA6. The two pulled out
to a four-second lead over Cunningham until a
lap-13 full-course caution was called to remove
Seth Thomas’ BMW 328i, which was parked
just off course at Turn Two with a mechanical
issue.
Saini took his second win of 2009 in Joliet.
Mark Weber photo.
On the ensuing double-file restart, Saini kept his spot, but admittedly went a little deep into Turn
One, causing the field to stack up behind. Foss went wide, allowing Cunningham and Kleinubing to
get by. As they exited Turn One, Kleinubing’s No. 42 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX made
contact with Foss, whose car exited the course and fell down the order. Following the race, series
officials fined Kleinubing 10 driver points and $500 for contact with Foss.
Saini was unfettered, cruising away to a 1.149-second win, averaging 74.679 mph in his third-career
win, the second of this season.
“This is actually the first track this year that we’ve been able to come and test at as a team before
the event,” Saini said. “In the end, I think that was the difference for us this weekend. We kind
of lost our way at the beginning of the event and the car was not to my liking. We made some
changes and went the wrong way, but brought it back before qualifying and it was as we tested,
just fantastic. All the credit to the team, Tri-Point, and Mazda for putting this together. The car was
awesome into the corner, out of the corner—it was just hooked up today.”
Cunningham started fourth in his No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX and followed
third-starting teammate Kuno Wittmer for several laps before getting by in Turn Two for third on
lap five. Cunningham turned the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race with a 2:39.855 (80.172 mph),
and his pass for second was named the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
Kleinubing started sixth and ran there for much of the race, moving up to fifth on lap 10 after
Andrew Aquilante’s Subaru blew a head gasket. The restart gave Kleinubing an opportunity, and
when both Foss and Wittmer got into the marbles on the outside of Turn One, he made his move.
Charles Espenlaub, of Lutz, Fla., started fifth in the No. 73 MazdaSpeed/Stoptech/ProParts MAZDA6
and also benefitted from the restart with three laps to go and moved up to finish fourth.
James Clay, of Blacksburg, Va., started ninth in his No. 36 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i
but moved up throughout the race to finish fifth. It was Clay’s first top-five finish of the season and
he was named the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing four positions.
After entering the weekend with a three-point lead, Saini left Joliet with a 52-point lead (613 to 561)
over Cunningham, followed by Kleinubing (557), Thomas (529) and Wittmer (517). Behind Acura by
eight points just two races ago, Mazda has now tied its rival atop the World Challenge Touring Car
Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine, with 43 apiece. BMW is third, with 24.
82
World Challenge TC • Round Six • Autobahn Country Club
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
1
2
4
3
6
4
5
5
6
MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/ProParts MAZDA6
135
13500
17
2:39.897
80.151
106
10200
17 -1.149
2:39.855
80.172
82
7000
17 -3.026
2:40.616
79.792
88
5200
17 -4.367
2:40.633
79.784
9
80
2000
17 -5.537
2:40.583
79.809
2
88
2800
17 -7.024
2:40.156
80.022
7 10
72
1200
17 -10.256
2:41.242
79.483
8
77
3100
17 -10.603
2:40.239
79.980
9 11
43 Joel Weinberger(R)/ Hindsdale/IL
64
3000
17 -20.027
2:42.135
79.045
10 12
49 Robert Roth(R)/ La Crosse/WI
60
2900
17 -28.162
2:46.822
76.824
11
8
57
800
11 Mech.
2:40.465
79.867
12
7
54
700
11 Mech.
2:40.777
79.712
3
74 Jason Saini/ Fort Worth/TX
Notes: #42 Kleinubing fined $500 and 10 points for driving conduct
Race Statistics
Time of race:
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Fastest race lap:
Fastest qualifier:
Cautions:
74.679 mph
1.149 Seconds
#1 Peter Cunningham, 2:39.855 (80.172 mph)
#74 Jason Saini, 2:38.148 (81.038 mph)
One for two laps
#36 James Clay advanced four positions
#42 Peter Cunningham pass for second
83
World Challenge TC • Round Seven • Mid-Ohio
Saini Takes Third Touring Car Win in Wild Mid-Ohio Race
LEXINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 9, 2009) – Jason Saini, of Fort Worth, Texas, came from eighth on the
grid to win his third SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car race of 2009 at the Toyo
Tires Mid-Ohio Grand Prix Presented by Dish Network. Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and
Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., completed the top three.
2009 Review
Saini started eighth in his No. 74 MAZDASPEED/
StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6 and ran there for
the opening five laps of the 27-lap, 60.966-mile
contes. Saini moved to sixth after a lap-six
restart and then threaded his way through
a lap-nine incident in the Esses that helped
him move to second. Just four laps later, he
was able to move past polesitter, Charles
Espenlaub’s No. 73 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/
ProParts MAZDA6 in the Keyhole for the lead to
take his third victory of the season.
“Of the two races I’ve always wanted to win,
Saini leads Cunningham and Thomas at Mid-Ohio.
one was Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland
Mark Weber photo.
and the other was here,” Saini said. “I had
a poor qualifying. I never put a good lap
together, even though I had a stellar car. I thought, starting eighth, ‘this isn’t going to be the day.
We’ll do what we can, come back and try to win next year.’ I never in my wildest dreams would
have imagined ending up here on the top step today.”
The win put Mazda into the World Challenge Touring Car Manufacturers’ Championship Presented
by RACER Magazine lead, with 53 to Acura’s 50 and BMW’s 27.
The battle for second was epic. Cunningham, who started his No. 1 Acura/RealTime/Red Line
Oil Acura TSX third, was at the center of the lap-nine action. Battling Espenlaub for the lead,
Cunningham and third-running Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, bumped at corner seven, sending
the Acura into a tank-slapper back and forth across the track while cars scattered to avoid him.
James Clay, running sixth in the No. 36 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i, had nowhere to
go, and eventually helped straighten the Acura out approaching the top of the hill. Cunningham
continued, but the BMW sustained damage too severe to continue.
Cunningham fell to fifth, but fought back to second in the end, after a fierce battle with Espenlaub,
Kleinubing and the No. 38 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i of Seth Thomas. It was
Cunningham’s second-consecutive runner-up finish.
While Saini captured the Sunoco Hard Charger for advancing the most positions from start-to-finish,
nobody passed more cars in the race than Kleinubing. On the standing start, his No. 42 Acura/
RealTime/Red Line Oil Acura TSX crept from its ninth-starting position, drawing a stop-and-go
penalty after the lap-five restart. Helped by the second caution, Kleinubing worked his way back
up from 12th place to finish on the podium. He turned the Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race in the
process, with a best time of 1:35.713 (84.929 mph).
Kleinubing also took home the AutoWeek Move of the Race for his lap-22 pass on Thomas in Turn
11 for third place.Thomas finished the race right on Kleinubing’s bumper, followed closely by the
No. 57 Horton Autosport/Sloan Securities MAZDA6 of Patrick Lindsey. Lindsey, of Santa Barbara,
Calif., started second, but was shuffled back at the start, eventually having to pit due to a flat tire
on lap seven. He, too, benefitted from the second full-course caution on lap 14.
With his second-straight win, Saini extended his point lead to 63 over Cunningham (733 to 670).
Kleinubing is third, with 649, followed by Thomas (614) and Wittmer (595).
84
World Challenge TC • Round Seven • Mid-Ohio
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
8
2
3
3
9
4
6
5
2
120
13500
27
1:36.016
84.660
109
10200
27 -4.719
1:36.202
84.497
92
7500
27 -4.983
1:35.713
84.929
85
2700
27 -5.528
1:35.974
84.698
57 Patrick Lindsey/ Santa Barbara/CA
HortonAutosprt/SloanSecurities MAZDA6
92
4500
27 -6.074
1:35.735
84.909
6 10
76
1300
27 -8.129
1:35.839
84.817
7
4
78
3200
27 -18.696
1:35.745
84.900
8
1
88
1100
27 -22.639
1:37.037
83.770
9
5
67
1000
27 -28.08
1:36.782
83.990
10 13
49 Branden Peterson/ Breckenridge/CO
60
2900
25 -2 laps
1:38.149
82.821
11 11
88 Chris Puskar(R)/ Charlotte/NC
Exedy/DBA/Carbotech/Vicity Acura Integra Type R
57
11 Mech.
1:38.254
82.732
12
54
8 Mech.
1:35.978
84.694
05 Kevin Helms(R)/ Charlotte/NC
DBA/HONDAWORKS Honda Civic
51
7
13 12
0 Off Course no time
Race Statistics
Lap leaders: Laps 1-11, #73 Charles Espenlaub
Débaufré Fastest race lap: #42 Pierre Kleinubing, 1:35.713 (84.929 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #73 Charles Espenlaub, 1:34.135 (86.352 mph)
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #42 Kleinubing for the pass of #38 for third
Sunoco Hard Charger: #74 Jason Saini advanced seven positions
Cautions: Two for five laps
85
World Challenge TC • Round Eight • Road America
Kleinubing Ends Drought with TC Win at Road America
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Aug. 15, 2009) – Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., captured
his first SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car win in 16 races Saturday, taking the World
Challenge Road America Grand Prix Presented by StopTech. Charles Espenlaub, of Lutz, Fla., and
Patrick Lindsey, of Santa Barbara, Calif., completed the top three in the Round Eight race, part of
the Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase at Elkhart Lake’s Road America.
Starting third in the No. 42 Acura/RealTime/
Red Line Oil Acura TSX, Kleinubing followed
teammate and first-starting Kuno Wittmer
into Turn One to take second. The two battled
for several laps before Kleinubing demoted
Wittmer’s No. 44 Acura/RealTime/Red Line
Oil Acura TSX to second for good on the front
straight. From there, Kleinubing sped away to
his 28th-career victory.
2009 Review
Wittmer’s day got worse after his teammate
went by, as the car experienced a mechanical
issue and he had to report to the pits, promoting
Espenlaub’s No. 73 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/
ProParts MAZDA6 to second. Kleinubing won by
1.535 seconds, averaging 96.065 mph.
Kleinubing waited more than a year to get back to
victory circle. Mark Weber photo.
“This is a big weight off my shoulders,” Kleinubing said. “I’m glad I still can do it. I was a little
worried that [team owner] Peter [Cunningham] was going to fire me after this season. Hopefully,
he’ll keep on for a few more.”
Kleinubing’s drive to victory also earned him the AutoWeek Move of the Race.
Espenlaub won the pole earlier today, but started fifth on the grid after losing the coin toss and the
top five was inverted. Espenlaub got a good start and ran fourth for much of the race behind the
pair of Acuras and Lindsey’s No. 57 Horton Autosport/Sloan Securities MAZDA6. On lap 10, Lindsey
went wide in Turn Seven, allowing Espenlaub through. It was Espenlaub’s third runner-up finish of
the season.
Espenlaub ran the Debaufre Fastest Lap of the Race on lap three, turning a 2:30.509 (96.823 mph).
He also took the Sunoco Hard Charger award after advancing three positions from start to finish.
Lindsey qualified second, but started fourth with the inversion. Like Kleinubing, he moved past the
No. 74 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6 of second-starting Jason Saini on the start and
gave chase to Wittmer and Kleinubing. His eventual third-place finish was a career-best.
Saini held off a late charge from teammate and fellow Fort Worth, Texas resident Eric Foss to finish
fourth. Foss finished fifth in the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/StopTech/ProParts MAZDA6. Foss has clinched
the 2009 Rookie of the Year honor.
With only two races remaining, Kleinubing gained ground on leader Jason Saini in the Drivers’
Championship. Saini now leads by 46 points (824 to 778). Cunningham fell from second to third in
the standings, with 736, followed by Espenlaub (707) and Thomas (682).
Acura also made up ground in the Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by RACER Magazine and
now trails Mazda by two, 61 to 59. BMW is third, with 27.
86
World Challenge TC • Round Eight • Road America
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
3
129
15500
2
5
115
3
4
HortonAutosprt/SloanSecurities MAZDA6
104
4
2
5
6
6
7
7
8
17
2:30.598
96.766
8200
17 -1.535
2:30.509
96.823
6500
17 -6.496
2:30.547
96.799
91
5200
17 -8.918
2:30.926
96.556
80
4500
17 -9.590
2:31.353
96.283
76
3800
17 -10.311
2:31.303
96.315
72
1200
17 -18.333
2:31.382
96.265
8 10
68
1100
17 -46.125
2:31.291
96.323
9 12
43 Bob Woodhouse/ Blair/NE
64
3000
17 -1:14.600 2:34.502
94.321
10
1
68
2900
16 -1 lap
2:30.697
96.702
11
9
57
800
8 Crash
2:33.353
95.027
54
2 Mech.
2:42.781
89.524
12 11
Race Statistics
Time of race: 42 minutes, 58.835 seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-5, #44 Kuno Wittmer
Laps 6-17, #42 Pierre Kleinubing
Cautions: None
Débaufré Fastest Lap of the Race: #73 Charles Espenlaub, 2:30.509 (96.823 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #73 Charles Espenlaub, 2:28.475 (98.149 mph)
Sunoco Hard Charger: #73 Espenlaub advanced three positions
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #42 Kleinubing takes first win in 16 race starts
87
World Challenge TC • Round Nine • Road Atlanta
Thomas Gets Home Track Touring Car Win at Road Atlanta
BRASELTON, Ga. (Sept. 25, 2009) –Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., earned a long overdue
and emotional win today in Round Nine of the World Challenge Touring Car Championships at
Road Atlanta, part of the Toyo Tires Road Atlanta Grand Represented by Dish Network. Thomas’
BimmerWorld teammates James Clay, of Blacksburg, Va., and Nick Esayian, of Encinitas, Calif.,
swept the podium, respectively.
2009 Review
In front family and friends, Thomas got a great
launch from his third starting spot in the No.
38 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i. At
the start, he easily slipped in behind teammate
Esayian, who started from the pole, and
drafted behind him for the first 14 laps before
passing Esayian for the lead. From there,
Thomas cruised to his third Touring Car win of
the season. He won by 1.692-seconds overlay.
“We’ve been close to winning before here,”
Thomas said. “My home track really has been
a jinx for me. I’ve had some good luck. But,
many times, the finishing results have been Thomas scored his series-best third win of 2009 at Road
bad luck. This win was very special for my
Atlanta. Shaun Lumley photo.
family – especially with my grandfather being
here – it was extra special because he is 86. I wanted him to see me win here at my home track.
I wanted him to see it in person. It was ultra important for me.”
Clay, who started fifth in the No. 36 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i, had to really battle
throughout the race to find his way to the podium. Early on, Clay swapped paint with fourth-finishing
Kuno Wittmer, of Montreal, Canada, and fifth-place finisher Eric Foss.
On lap six, Clay finally cleared both Wittmer and Foss and set his sights on catching his teammate,
Thomas, who was running second at the time. Running in a BimmerWorld nose-to-tail train, Clay,
Thomas and Esayian, began to pull away from the rest of the field.
After Thomas passed Esayian for the top spot, Clay was right behind Esayian. Clay was pushing
hard, but was content to let his teammate lead the way as long as all three cars could finish on the
podium. Unfortunately for Esayian, on lap 20, he made a little bobble and it allowed Clay to pass
him for second – which is where Clay finished.
Clay won the Sunoco Hard Charger for picking up three spots from his grid position. He also won
the AutoWeek Move of the Race for passing Esayian on lap 20.
Esayian finished third in the No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i to earn his first-career
World Challenge Touring Car podium.
Jason Saini leads the World Challenge Touring Car Drivers’ Championship, with 892 to Pierre
Kleinubing’s 838 points. Peter Cunningham is third, with 812, followed by Thomas (806) and Charles
Espenlaub, with 771. Mazda has a one point lead over Acura in the Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER Magazine. Mazda has 63 points and Acura has 62, followed by BMW, with 37.
88
World Challenge TC • Round Nine • Road Atlanta
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
3
124
9500
27
1:35.526
95.722
2
5
115
6200
27 -1.692
1:35.309
95.940
3
1
34 Nick Esayian/ Encinitas/CA
105
4500
27 -4.874
1:35.916
95.333
4
2
91
5200
27 -5.174
1:36.003
95.247
5
4
92
4500
27 -7.074
1:35.771
95.477
6
7
76
3800
27 -7.296
1:35.647
95.601
7 10
StreetUnit.com/Snapitt.com MAZDA6
72
1200
27 -16.715
1:36.153
95.098
8
8
68
1100
27 -24.677
1:36.552
94.705
9
6
64
1000
27 -2:02.891 1:36.213
95.039
10
9
60
2900
26 -1 lap
1:36.134
95.117
11 13
62 Alex Ratcliffe(R)/ Berryville/VA
Brimtek/Lab Rescue.org Lexus IS300
57
800
26 -1 lap
1:41.574
90.023
12 14
88 John Whitaker(R)/ Bethlehem/PA
Exedy/DBA/Carbotech/Vicity Acura Integra Type R
25 -2 laps
1:42.657
89.073
13 11
24 Crash
1:39.037
92.329
14 12
05 Kevin Helms(R)/ Charlotte/NC
DBA/HONDAWORKS Honda Civic
17 OHeat
1:38.426
92.902
51
600
Race Statistics
Lap leaders: Laps 1-14, #34 Nick Esayian
Laps 15-27, #38 Seth Thomas
Débaufré race lap: #36 James Clay, 1:35.309 (95.940 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #36 James Clay, 1:34.695 (96.562 mph)
AutoWeek Move of the Race: #36 Clay’s pass for second on lap 20
Sunoco Hard Charger: #36 Clay advanced three positions
89
World Challenge TC • Round 10 • Mazda Raceway
Kleinubing Wins TC Finale, Fifth Championship in Monterey
MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 11, 2009) - Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., led Sunday’s
Applied Computer Solutions Monterey Sports Car Championships Presented by Bondurant from
start-to-finish and captured his fifth SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car Presented by
Toyo Tires Championship. Teammate Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and James Clay, of
Blacksburg, Va., completed the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
2009 Review
Kleinubing started his No. 42 Acura/RealTime/
Red Line Acura TSX on the pole, and knew
he had to win if he was to have a chance to
secure the Drivers’ Championship and the
Manufacturers’ Championship Presented by
RACER Magazine for Acura. He did just that,
taking the lead on the standing start and
leading every lap to secure his second win of
2009, the 29th of his career.
“The start was the best scenario that could
have played out for us,” Kleinubing said. “Peter
[Cunningham] is the master of numbers and
I’m sure he was doing his math every lap
Kleinubing leads the field.
out there, but I just kept my head down and
Mark Weber photo.
didn’t pay any attention to him. I made a little
mistake on lap two going into Turn 11 and I think that made me more alert for the rest of the
race. I knew what I had to do. I had to win and everything else had to fall in place. It did and I’m
surprised to [win the Championship], trust me.”
Kleinubing came into the race 54 points behind Jason Saini and Acura was one point behind Mazda.
With the pole and Saini’s eighth-place qualifying effort, Kleinubing picked up 15 points on the
leader. Saini needed to get into the top five in order to win the title, but finished eighth in his No.
74 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/ProParts MAZDA6.
As the team owner of RealTime Racing, Cunningham’s primary goal was to secure the Manufacturers’
Championship for Acura, entering the weekend one point behind Mazda. Kleinubing’s pole tied the
Championship, meaning whichever brand finished ahead would take the title.
Clay started second in the No. 36 BimmerWorld/GearWrench BMW 328i, but struggled off the line,
falling to fourth. From there, he waged a fierce battle with the No. 75 MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/
ProParts MAZDA6 of Chip Herr. On lap eight, the two made contact going into the Andretti Hairpin,
allowing Nick Esayian to move past both into third place in the No. 34 BimmerWorld/GearWrench
BMW 328i. A four-lap caution from laps eight through 12 bunched the group back up, and on lap
15, Clay was around Herr, taking third from his teammate Esayian two laps later. Clay was able
to catch the leading Acura duo, setting the Débaufré Fastest Race Lap, but couldn’t make a pass.
Esayian finished fourth to earn his fourth top-five finish of the season. Making a cameo appearance,
and his first start since the season-opener at Sebring, Herr was Mazda’s top car throughout the
race, and finished fifth.
In the newly establish Touring Car 2 Class, Scott Webb, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., brought the No.
18 Jackson-Dawson Communications Scion tC home in 15th for a convincing class win. The race
marked the series debut for Scion.
Kleinubing tied Cunningham and Michael Galati in securing his fifth World Challenge Championship,
although all of Kleinubing’s have come in the Touring Car class while Cunningham and Galati have
won in multiple categories. Kleinubing finished with 973 points to Saini’s 960. Defending Champion
Cunningham finished third, with 921, followed by Thomas (878) and Espenlaub (847).
Acura earned its eighth Manufacturers’ Championship, the 13th for American Honda in total. It
finished with 72 points to Mazda’s 65. BMW finished third, with 42.
90
World Challenge TC • Round 10 • Mazda Raceway
Fn. St. Car Laps
During Race
Sponsor/Car
Pts.
Purse Cmp Status
Fast Lap
Speed
1
1
2
3
3
2
36 James Clay/Blacksburg/VA
4
7
5
6
Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil/Acura TSX
135
15500
26
1:38.246
82.006
109
10200
26 -0.61
1:38.455
81.832
BimmerWorld/GearWrench/BMW 328i
104
4500
26 -0.939
1:38.112
82.118
34 Nick Esayian/Encinitas/CA
85
2700
26 -11.344
1:38.401
81.877
5
75 Chip Herr/Lititz/PA
MAZDASPEED/Stoptech/ProParts/MAZDA6
83
4500
26 -14.299
1:38.559
81.746
9
73 Charles Espenlaub/Lutz/FL
76
3800
26 -20.587
1:38.678
81.647
7 10
38 Seth Thomas/Cumming/GA
72
1200
26 -20.704
1:38.582
81.726
8
74 Jason Saini/Fort Worth/TX
68
1100
26 -21.711
1:38.949
81.423
Redstone/Blacktrax/Honda Civic SI
64
1000
26 -22.21
1:38.772
81.569
57 Patrick Lindsey/Santa Barbara/CA
StreetUnit.com/Snapitt.com/MAZDA6
60
900
26 -22.282
1:38.645
81.674
11 12
45 Eric Curran/Easthampton/MA
57
800
26 -23.382
1:39.292
81.142
12 11
3 Eric Foss(R)/Fort Worth/TX
54
700
26 -24.989
1:38.950
81.423
13 18
8 Andrie Hartanto/Concord/CA
Redzone/Supertech/Acura TSX
51
600
26 -38.811
1:39.847
80.691
48
550
26 -45.783
1:40.651
80.046
8
9 13
10
6
42 Pierre Kleinubing/Coconut Creek/FL
1 Peter Cunningham/Milwaukee/WI
7 Graham Downey(R)/Morgan Hill/CA
14 14
43 Sage Marie(R)/Huntington Beach/CA Acura/RealTime/Red Line Oil/Acura TSX
15 15
18 Scott Webb(TC2)/Hermosa Beach/CA Jackson-Dawson Communications/Scion tC
26 -1:07.775 1:41.343
79.500
16 16
08 Tommy Chen(TC2)/Pasadena/CA
Autoworld/Speed Trial USA/Mazda RX-8
22 -4 laps
1:49.818
73.365
17 17
23 Andrew Gillis(R)/San Jose/CA
Gillis Mtrspts/AIT Racing/Ford Focus L
45
13 Axle
1:41.537
79.348
18
44 Kuno Wittmer/Montreal/QU
49
1:38.611
81.702
4
500
6 Mech.
Race Statistics
Average speed:
Margin of victory:
Lap leaders:
Débaufré race lap:
Fastest qualifier:
72.615mph
0.610 Seconds
Laps 1-26, #42 Pierre Kleinubing
#36 James Clay,1:38.112 (82.118 mph)
#42 Pierre Kleinubing,1:37.042 (83.032 mph)
#57 Patrick Lindsey
#7 Graham Downey advanced four positions
91
WORLD CHALLENGE TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 SEASON-AT-A-GLANCE
DATE
CIRCUIT
March 20 RACE
DISTANCE
(MILES)
No.
OF
LAPS
No.
OF
ENT.
No.
OF
QUAL.
No.
OF
ST.
No.
OF
FIN.
MARGIN
OF VIC.
(SEC.)
No.
LEAD
CHANGE
66.6
18
14
14
14
14
2.563
1
2.967* 2
Sebring
May 2 New Jersey 60.75 27 14 13 14 14 May 16 Mosport 1 68.852 28 11 11 11 11 19.035 1
May 17 Mosport 2 68.852 28 11 11 11 11 0.564 1
July 4 Watkins Glen 68 20 13 12 12 12 1.118 0
July 26 Autobahn 60.52 17 12 12 12 12 1.149*
0
August 9 Mid-Ohio 60.966 27 13 13 13 13 4.719 1
68.815 17 12 11 12 12 1.535 2
68.58 27 14 14 14 14 1.692
2
August 15 Road America Sept 25 Road Atlanta October 11 Mazda Raceway 58.188 2009 Review
26 18 15 18 18 Total
650.123
235
132
126
131
131
Average
65.0123
23.5
13.2
12.6
13.1
13.1
0.610 0
35.952
10
3.5952
1
* Denotes Track Record
WORLD CHALLENGE TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
2009 DRIVERS’ SCORECARD
CIRCUIT
WINNER
WINNER’S
Speed
(MPH)
FASTEST
QUALIFIER
Speed
(MPH)
FASTEST
RACE LAP
Speed
(MPH)
Seth Thomas 92.471
Sebring Seth Thomas 91.708 Pierre Kleinubing 93.409 New Jersey Jason Saini 87.269* Kuno Wittmer 88.052* Pierre Kleinubing 88.080*
Mosport 1 Kuno Wittmer 81.598 Eric Foss(R) 94.118 Eric Foss(R) 84.820
Mosport 2 Peter Cunningham 95.691 Eric Foss(R) 97.359 Charles Espenlaub 96.551
Watkins Glen Seth Thomas 95.847 Seth Thomas 96.527 Andrew Aquilante 96.709
Autobahn Jason Saini 74.679* Jason Saini 81.038* Peter Cunningham Mid-Ohio Jason Saini Road America Pierre Kleinubing Road Atlanta Seth Thomas Mazda Raceway Pierre Kleinubing 80.172*
71.455 Charles Espenlaub 86.352 Pierre Kleinubing 84.929
96.065 Charles Espenlaub 98.149 Charles Espenlaub 96.823
94.875 James Clay 96.562 James Clay 95.940
72.615 Pierre Kleinubing 83.023 James Clay 82.118
* - Denotes Track Record
92
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE TC DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Ps. Driver, Car
Pts.
1 Pierre Kleinubing, Acura TSX
973
2 Jason Saini, MAZDA6
960
3 Peter Cunningham, Acura TSX
921
4 Seth Thomas, BMW 328i
878
5 Charles Espenlaub, MAZDA6
847
6 Kuno Wittmer, Acura TSX
803
7 Eric Foss(R), MAZDA3
769
8 James Clay, BMW 328i
767
9 Nick Esayian, BMW 328i
758
10 Patrick Lindsey, MAZDA6
328
11 Toby Grahovec, Acura TSX
313
12 Andrew Aquilante, Subaru WRX
309
13 Branden Peterson, Acura TSX
165
14 Nick Wittmer, Acura TSX
164
15 Chip Herr, MAZDA6
131
16 Alex Ratcliffe(R), Lexus IS300
117
17 Michael Galati, Mazda6
72
18 Joel Weinberger(R), Acura TSX
64
19 Bob Woodhouse, Acura TSX
64
20 Graham Downey(R), Honda Civic SI 64
21 Jeff Courtney, Acura TSX
60
22 Robert Roth(R), Acura TSX
60
23 Eric Curran, Acura TSX
57
24 Chris Puskar(R), Acura Integra R
57
25 Carl Hober, Acura TSX
54
26 VJ Mirzayan(R), BMW 325
54
27 Kevin Helms(R), Honda Civic
51
28 Matt Lang(R), Dodge SRT 4
51
29 Andrie Hartanto, Acura TSX
51
30 Sage Marie(R), Acura TSX
48
31 Andrew Gillis(R), Ford Focus L
45
Purse
SEB NJMP MOS1 MOS2 WGI
AUB
$81,600 (1) 2 (6) 5 (4) 2 (2) 5 (4) 6
(6) 3
$66,700 (5) 3(3) 1** (5) 4 (4) 3 (8) 8 (1) 1**
$75,400 (9) 9 (5) 2* (7) 5 (5) 1** (7) 5
(4) 2
$37,400 (2) 1**(2)14 (8)10 (8) 4 (1) 1** (8)11
$38,400 (4)12 (4)11 (6) 7 (3) 2 (2) 2
(5) 4
$42,700 (3)13 (1) 4 (2) 1** (7) 6 (9) 7
(3) 8
$28,200 (12) 4(10) 6 (1) 6 (1) 9 (11)11 (2) 6
$18,400 (8) 6 (7) 7 (3) 9 (6)11 (6) 9
(9) 5
$18,100 (7) 5 (9) 9 (9)11 (10) 8 (3) 4
(10) 7
$13,100 -
-
-
-
-
-
$12,800 (13)11(11) 8 (10) 8 (9)10 (10)10
-
$6,800 (11) 8 (8) 3
-
-
(5) 3
(7)12
$3,500 -
-
-
-
-
-
$10,700 -
-
(11) 3 (11) 7
-
-
$5,050 (6)14
-
-
-
-
-
$1,700 - (15)10
-
-
-
-
$1,200 (10) 7 -
-
-
-
-
$3,000 -
-
-
-
-
(11) 9
$3,000 -
-
-
-
-
-
$1,000 -
-
-
-
-
-
$2,900 (14)10 -
-
-
-
-
$2,900 -
-
-
-
-
(12)10
$800 -
-
-
-
-
-
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
$700 - (13)12
-
-
-
-
$700 -
-
-
-
(12)12
-
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
$600 - (12)13
-
-
-
-
$600 -
-
-
-
-
-
$550 -
-
-
-
-
-
$500 -
-
-
-
-
-
MOH
(9) 3
(8) 1**
(3) 2
(6) 4
(1) 8*
(4) 7
(5) 9
(7)12
(10) 6
(2) 5
-
-
(13)10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(11)11
-
-
(12)13
-
-
-
-
RAM
RAT
(3) 1** (9)10
(4) 4 (8) 8
(7) 6 (7) 6
(10) 8 (3) 1*
(1) 2 (6) 9
(5)10* (4) 4
(6) 5 (2) 5
(8) 7 (1) 2
(9)11 (5) 3**
(2) 3 (10) 7
-
-
-
-
(11)12 (11)13
-
-
-
-
-
(13)11
-
-
-
-
(12) 9
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(12)14
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
MRLS
(1) 1**
(8) 8
(3) 2
(10) 7
(9) 6
(4)18
(11)12
(2) 3
(7) 4
(6)10
(5) 5
(13) 9
(12)11
(14)13
(15)14
(18)17
Total Purse $479,000 (Purse includes prize money, awards and posted contingencies.)
Only drivers scoring points are listed.
*- Lap led (point)
**- Most laps led (point)
Qualifying Points: Pole (10), 2nd (8), 3rd (6), 4th (4), 5th (2)
Key: SEB - Sebring International Raceway, NJMP - New Jersey Motorsports Park, MOS - Mosport, WGI - Watkins Glen International, AUB Autobahn Country Club, MOH - Mid Ohio, RAM - Road America, RAT - Road Atlanta, MRLS - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
93
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE TOURING CAR
MANUFACTURERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Finishing Position
Ps.
Manufacturer
Pts.
SEB
NJMP MOS1 MOS2
WGI
AUB
MOH
RAM
RAT
MRLS
1
Acura
72
2*
2*
1
1
5
2
2
1
4
1*
2
Mazda
65
3
1
4*
2*
2
1*
1*
2*
5
5
3
BMW
42
1
7
9
4
1*
5
4
7
1*
3
*- Pole position (one point)
2009 WORLD CHALLENGE TC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ps. Driver, Car
Pts. Purse
SEB NJMP MOS1 MOS2 WGI
AUB
MOH
1 Eric Foss(R), MAZDA3
769 $28,200 (12) 4(10) 6 (1) 6 (1) 9 (11)11 (2) 6
(5) 9
2 Alex Ratcliffe(R), Lexus IS300
117 $1,700 - (15)10
-
-
-
-
-
3 Joel Weinberger(R), Acura TSX
64 $3,000 -
-
-
-
-
(11) 9
-
4 Graham Downey(R), Honda Civic SI 64 $1,000 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
5 Robert Roth(R), Acura TSX
60 $2,900 -
-
-
-
-
(12)10
-
6 Chris Puskar(R), Acura Integra R
57
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
(11)11
7 VJ Mirzayan(R), BMW 325
54
$700 -
-
-
-
(12)12
-
-
8 Kevin Helms(R), Honda Civic
51
$0 -
-
-
-
-
-
(12)13
9 Matt Lang(R), Dodge SRT 4
51
$600 - (12)13
-
-
-
-
-
10 Sage Marie(R), Acura TSX
48
$550 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
11 Andrew Gillis(R), Ford Focus L
45
$500 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
RAM
(6) 5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
RAT
(2) 5
(13)11
-
-
-
-
-
(12)14
-
-
-
MRLS
(11)12
(13) 9
(15)14
(18)17
2009 Review
Key: SEB - Sebring International Raceway, NJMP - New Jersey Motorsports Park, MOS - Mosport, WGI - Watkins Glen International, AUB Autobahn Country Club, MOH - Mid Ohio, RAM - Road America, RAT - Road Atlanta, MRLS - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
94
PAUL BROWN
PAUL BROWN
Covina, Calif.
Age: 44
2009: Entered the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in a Ford
Mustang GT, finishing 20th.
Previously: Started SCCA Club Racing in 1992. Has served as a Ford Motor
Company Tier 4 test driver and Aero Racing USA (Morgan) factory test driver.
In 1993 finished eighth in first SCCA Pro Race, racing a Ford Mustang Cobra
at Des Moines in the WC Class. Earned a total of 12 top-10 and four top-five
finishes in World Challenge between 1993 and 1998. Best Championship finish
came in 1998 when he finished sixth. Ended the year seventh in the 1999 SPEED GT Championship
with four top-10 finishes and a career-high second-place at Vancouver, driving a Ford Saleen
Mustang. In 2000, earned top-10 finishes at Lowes Motor Speedway, Lime Rock Park and Ste. Croix
behind the wheel of a Saleen SR. Enter two events in 2001 with a Chevrolet Corvette, finishing 15th
at Sebring and 14th at Road Atlanta. Finished 11th in the 2004 Le Mans Historic 24 Hours driving
a 1971 Ferrari 512 M. Was a winner at the 2005 Monterey Historics in a 1961 Chaparral 1. In 2006
won the first-ever NASA American Iron Extreme national race. In 2008, Entered first two rounds
of the SPEED GT season in a Porsche 911 GT3, finishing 10th at Sebring and 20th at Long Beach.
The Drivers
Personal: Born July 8, 1965. Married to World Challenge veteran Carol Hollfelder. Is the race shop
manager for Tiger Racing, but first job was as a Skip Barber mechanic. Drives a Ford Mustang GT
on the street. Enjoys a good steak and the TV show Top Gear. Road America is his favorite track
and Brian Redman is his racing hero.
Year
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2008
2009
Totals
Class
B
WC
Sports
T1
T1
T1
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
3
2
4
2
4
7
10
10
2
2
1
47
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
5
Top-10 Pts. Fin. (T10)
2
1
2
0
2
5
6
4
7
3
0
1
0
0
20
6
JAMES CLAY
JAYMS CLAY
Blacksburg, Va.
Age: 36
2009: Finished eighth in the Touring Car Championship in a BMW 328i. His
best finished was 2nd at Road Atlanta, where he qualified on pole. Also finished on the podium at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (third place).
Previously: His first race was a BMW Club Racing event at Pocono in
1998. 2001 ECR Enduro Series Champion, second in 2001 ARRC Enduro
Championship, second in 2002 ARRC ITS Championship. Won five SCCA
Regional ITS events in 2001 in a BMW 325. Followed that up by winning four
times in six starts in 2002 SCCA Regional ITS races. In 2002, ran three SPEED Touring Car races in
a BMW 325is, with a season-best finish of 14th at Washington, D.C. In 2003, competed in his first
full season of SPEED Touring Car competition. Scored his first top-10 finish at Road Atlanta. Picked
up three top-10 finishes in 2004, including his first top-5 (Road Atlanta) and finished 16th in points.
Clay’s Crew Chief Jason Marks was awarded the Zimmerman Cup as SPEED Touring Car’s top crew
chief. In 2005, collected six top-10 and three top-five finishes in 10 starts, driving a BMW325i.
96
Finish 10th in the Championship points. Returned in BMW in 2006 to contest eight rounds, earning
top-10 finishes at Miller Motorsports Park and Mosport. BimmerWorld team developed new BMW
E90 chassis in house for 2007 and collected the first North American win for the chassis as a team
owner at Mid-Ohio with driver Joey Hand. In seven starts, tied his career-best finish of third at Road
Atlanta, where he set the fastest lap of the race. In 2008, claimed first series win at Road America in
his BMW 325i. Qualified in top-10 at eight of 10 rounds. Finished ninth in SPEED Touring Car points.
Personal: Born Aug. 14, 1973. BimmerWorld owner. Played semi-professional football after college
as a 300 lb-plus offensive lineman. Enjoys house techno music, but does not dance to it. Wields a
mean barbeque – loves to cook and grill at home on the weekends.
Year
2002
2003
2004 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
3
9
8
10
8
7
10
10
65
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Top-5
0
0
1
3
0
1
2
3
10
Top-10
0
1
3
6
2
2
4
8
26
Fin. (T10)
10
-
9
8
8
JEFF COURTNEY
JEF KORT-nee
Milwaukee, Wis.
Age: 44
Career Highlights: 2006 Piloti SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year.
2009: Finished 12 in GT in a Dodge Viper. Had a season best of sixth at
Mid-Ohio.
Personal: Drives a BMW M3 on the street. Likes mexican and italian food and favorite TV shows are
sports related. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is his favorite track. Bob Woodhouse is his racing hero.
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
GT
WC
Starts
1
10
10
10
1
8
40
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
1
1
1
0
0
3
Top-10
0
4
4
6
0
4
19
Fin. (T10)
10
7
8
1
7
97
The Drivers
Previously: In the 1980s ran motorcycles and motocross. Prior to joining
World Challenge, competed in SCCA Pro Racing Mazdaspeed Miata Cup. Also
drove in Grand-Am Cup GS and Panoz Pro GT, as well as oval track snowmobiling and motorcycle competitions. Won the 2005 Panoz GT Pro winter series championship,
and also claimed the Miata Cup Sunoco Hard Charger award at Mosport in 2005. Competed in first
World Challenge event in 2005, placing 19th after starting 27th at Sebring. Competed in a full year
of SPEED Touring Car in 2006 with the STaSIS Audi team. Finished the year 10th in the Drivers’
Championship with four top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth at Mid-Ohio. earning him
the Piloti Rookie of the Year Award. Stepped over from SPEED Touring Car to GT in 2007, driving
a Woodhouse Performance Dodge Viper. Earned four top-10 finishes en route to finishing a careerhigh seventh in the Drivers’ Championship. Best finish was fifth at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, where
his teammate was NASCAR star Kasey Kahne. In 2008, driving a Woodhouse Performance Dodge
Viper, equaled his best SPEED GT finish of fifth at Sebring. Collected three more top-10 finishes to
end the year eighth in the Drivers’ Championship.
DINO CRESCENTINI
DEE-no cres-en-TEE-nee
Malibu, Calif.
Age: 49
Career Highlights: 2004 SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year.
2009: Finished a career-best ninth in the GT Championship despite missing
two races after a crash in practice at Long Beach. Earned his second career
win, at Watkins Glen. Qualified on the pole at Sebring, and finished on the
podium (third place) at Road America.
The Drivers
Previously: Began racing various motocross and desert events in 1972 and
continues to participate in these events. For the past 25 years, Dino has competed in five to six
Alfa Club Races/Time Trials per year dating back to 1978 and is a driving instructor. In 1983-84,
competed in SCCA GT-5 class driving an Alfa Romeo GTA. Holds lap records at Willow Springs and
Riverside. From 1990-1992, ran a tube frame Alfa Romeo in SCCA GT-3 class and Nasport. Was
second in the division and third at the Runoffs. Holds several lap records. Competed in the TransAm series from 1993-1997. Won several Rising Star of the Race awards and his best finish was
fifth. Driving a 1972 McLaren M8F, he has won every Can-Am vintage car race he has finished from
2002 to the present. In rookie SPEED Touring Car season of 2004, ran full slate of ten events in a
BMW 325i. Scored one top-five finish (Infineon), six top-10s and was named 2004 SPEED Touring
Car Rookie of the Year. Joined Tri-Point Motorsports in 2005 and ran in 10 Touring Car events
driving a MAZDA6. Qualified in the top five in half of his starts, including a career-best second on
the grid at Portland. Also had a pair of top-three finishes highlighted by a career-best third at
Infineon. In addition to Touring Car, took to SPEED GT, driving Lou Gigliotti’s Corvette at Portland
where he earned his first World Challenge win in his first-ever GT start. Continued with Tri-Point
Motorsports in 2006, earning three top-ten finishes. Best result was an eighth at Infineon. Started
the 2007 season with STaSIS, finishing seventh at Sebring in an Audi A4. Entered final race at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with Tri-Point Motorsports in a MAZDA6, finishing fifth. Contested all
10 rounds of 2008 GT Championship in GMG Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 and seven Touring Car
Rounds in a RealTime Acura TSX. Finished 13th in the SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Championship
with a best finish of seventh at Miller Motorsports Park and Mid-Ohio. Finished six of seven SPEED
Touring Car races in the top 10.
Personal: Born July 3, 1960. Is the CEO for Centric Parts. Has three children (Sasha, Giuliana and
Dino Jr.) and drives an Audi RS4 on the street. Lists Grand Prix as his favorite movie and prefers
Italian and Japanese food. Tazio Nuvalari is his racing hero and Portland is his favorite track.
Year
2004
2005
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008
2009
Totals 98
Class
TC
GT
TC
TC
TC
GT
TC
GT
WC
Starts
10
2
10
8
2
10
7
8
57
Wins
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
Top-5
1
1
2
0
1
0
0
3
8
6
10
1
3
3
2
5
6
5
9
31
9
PETER CUNNINGHAM
PEE-tur KUN-ing-ham
Grafton, Wis.
Age: 47
Career Highlights: Eight-time SCCA Pro Racing Drivers’ Champion: 1988
SCCA Endurance Class B Champion. 1989 SCCA Endurance Class B Champion.
1990 Race Truck Champion. 1995 World Challenge Super Production
Champion. 1997 World Challenge T1 Champion. 2002, 2005 and 2008 Touring
Car Champion. In 2001, recognized as all-time winning North American
professional road racer. Leader of nearly every statistical category in World
Challenge racing. Also has ice racing and Rally Championships. In 2000, was
the first North American to win the prestigious Worldwide BMW Sports Trophy.
2009: Finished third in the Touring Car Championship, finishing in the top-10 at all 10 races. Won
at Mosport, and finished as the runner-up four times (New Jersey Motorsports Park, Autobahn, MidOhio and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca).
99
The Drivers
Previously: Started autocrossing at the age of 17, winning the first event entered. Professional
career started in 1985 in the Playboy Endurance Cup. Was the SCCA Escort Endurance Class B
Champion, driving a Honda CRX Si in 1988. Won the same title in 1989 and led the B class with
11 career victories. In 1990, won the Racetruck Championship in a Mazda and finished second
(Honda CRX Si) in the first year of the SCCA World Challenge Super Production class. In 1993, led
Honda to the Class C Manufacturers’ Championship, scored three victories and finished second in
the Drivers’ Championship in a Honda Prelude Si. In 1994, drove to second place in the WC Super
Production class, missing the Drivers’ Championship again by three points. In 1995, won his first
World Challenge Drivers’ Championship (Class C) in a Honda Prelude Si. Recorded one victory
(Trois-Riveres) and eight top-five finishes in as many races. In 1996, finished fifth overall with
two wins in a T1 Acura NSX. In 1997, captured his second World Challenge Drivers’ Championship
with four victories in a T1 NSX. Also in 1997, finished second in CART Super Touring Championship
in a Honda Accord for Honda of America Racing Team. Finished third overall in the T1 Drivers’
Championship (Acura NSX) in 1998 on the strength of two wins. Also in 1998, signed on to to Team
PTG’s BMW endurance racing program, competing with various co-drivers in USRRC and IMSA GT
catagories. Over the next three seasons, scored three wins, 17 top-three and 27 top-10 finishes. Did
not compete in World Challenge in 1999. In 2000, ran the entire SpeedvisionGT season in a BMW
M3, recording a World Challenge record-tying 19th-career win at Ste. Croix. Recorded five top-10
finishes, four top-fives, and a season-high three pole positions. Made one Speedvision Touring Car
start, finishing third. In 2001, finished runner-up in the Speedvision GT Championship in an Acura
NSX SC, topping the statistical charts with a season-high five wins, seven poles, seven top-fives
and nine top-10s. Broke the World Challenge record for wins at Sebring with 20. In his only Touring
Car appearance of the season, drove a RealTime Racing Acura Integra R to a 10th-place finish after
starting 40th at Road Atlanta. In 2002, captured third SPEEDWorld Challenge Touring Car title with
one win, six top fives, ten top-10s and two poles in an Acura Integra Type R. Scored runner-up
finish in GT Championship, with one win, eight top fives and ten top-10 finishes an Acura NSX SC.
Became second driver in history to win both class races in the same weekend (Road Atlanta). In
2003, headed the Nissan factory team effort driving a Nissan SE-R Spec V. In the program’s first
season, Cunningham recorded a flag-to-flag win at Road America, two podium, five top-five and six
top-10 finishes en route to finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. In 2004, completed second
and final year of Nissan Sentra SE-R program, earning one win, six top-five and six top-10 finishes
in 10 SPEED Touring Car events, finishing fifth in the point standings. The victory at Road America
made it five consecutive seasons with at least one win. Won the season-long Air Force Reserve Pole
Award for a class-best three poles won. Also drove in two SPEED GT races in an Audi RS6, earning
a top-five and a top-10 finish. Earned fourth World Challenge Drivers’ Championship in 2005, his
first since winning the 2002 Touring Car title. In eleven starts, earned one win (Sebring) to go
along with seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes, all of which helped Acura claim the Touring Car
Manufacturers’ Championship. Had four consecutive third-place finishes following season-opening
win. Needs just one more win to earn 30 for his career and only seven starts to break the 150
start plateau. Finished fourth in the 2006 SPEED Touring Car Driver’s Championship. In ten starts,
scored three podium and nine top-10 finishes, helping Acura to its record-sixth Manufacturers’ title.
Broke a 25-race winless streak in 2007 at the series’ first visit to the Grand Prix of Toronto. Earned
a second win in the final race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Had a total of four top-five finishes
and eighth top-10s. Ended the season fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Earned record-tying fifth
World Challenge Championship in 2008, finishing all 10 rounds of SPEED Touring Car Championship
in the top 10, including five top-three finishes and two pole positions. Driving a RealTime Acura
TSX, helped lead American Honda to its record 11th Manufactuers’ Title. Also competed in the
KONI Challenge.
The Drivers
Personal: Nickname is “P.D.” Born July 1, 1962 and is married to Rainey with one daughter,
Audrey. Owns RealTime R&L, Inc., a racing team and logistics company in Wisconsin. Serves as
co-chairman of WC Vision with Bob Woodhouse.
Year
1990
1991
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
2000
2000
2001
2001
2002
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
SP
WC
SP
A
D
C
SP
SP
T1
T1
T1
TC
GT
TC
GT
TC
GT
TC
TC
GT
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
8
2
2
1
2
8
8
8
10
9
9
1
10
1
10
11
10
10
10
2
11
10
10
10
10
183
Wins
2
1
1
0
0
3
2
1
2
4
2
0
1
0
5
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
2
0
1
32
Top-5
7
2
1
1
2
7
6
8
4
8
4
1
4
0
7
6
8
5
6
1
7
5
4
9
7
120
8
2
2
1
1
2
8
2
7
2
8
1
7
5
8
1
5
3
1
5
7
1
9
2
10
1
10
2
6
4
6
5
1
11
1
9
4
8
5
10
1
10
3
154
1
ERIC CURRAN
AIR-ik KUR-in
Easthampton, Mass.
Age: 34
Career Highlights: 1999 SCCA Runoffs American Sedan National Champion.
1999 SCCA Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year.
2009: Finished fifth in GT, tied for a World Challenge career best. Didn’t win
a race, but finished on the podium six times. Was the runner-up at Sebring,
Long Beach, Watkins Glen, Road America and Road Atlanta and finished third
at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Previously: In 1994, began SCCA Club Racing in ITB. Has experience in SCCA ITC, American
Sedan, Spec Miata, the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, Grand-Am, Grand-Am Cup, Motorola
Cup, NASCAR Modified series, SCCA Solo, EMRA time trials and ice racing. In 1999, third-place finish at the Rolex 24 Hour in the AGT class and won the SCCA National Championship in American
Sedan. In 2000, started six SPEED GT races with three top-fives and six top-10s. Won three Borla
Performance awards. Earned the pole, finished second and set the track record at Lime Rock Park
in the Grand-Am GT race. In 2001, ran three SPEED GT races in a Chevrolet Corvette C5 and
finished 16th in the points. Recorded two top-fives (Lime Rock Park and Road Atlanta) and three
100
top-10s. Best finish of fourth at Road Atlanta. In 2002, ran SPEED GT events at Lime Rock Park
and Road Atlanta in a Corvette Z06. Best finish of the season was a fifth at Lime Rock Park from
a seventh-place qualifying position. After having already run one 2003 race at Lime Rock Park, he
joined TeamRTR prior to the race at Infineon Raceway. Was the pilot of a Nissan SE-R Spec V and
recorded a career-best third place finish in Puerto Rico in addition to three top-10 finishes. Ran a
scaled down effort in 2004, competing in two SPEED Touring Car events and finishing a season-high
15th at Lime Rock after starting 36th. Also competed in one SPEED GT event, also at Lime Rock,
where he nabbed a top-10, finishing eighth. In 2005, competed in a career-high 11 events, driving
in a full season for the first time in his career. With RealTime Racing, earned first win of career
at Denver and finished in the top five (three podiums) four times. Finished fifth in the Drivers’
Championship, the first time in his career to finish in the top 10. Finished fifth in the Championship
with RealTime again in 2006, collecting four podium finishes, including his second World Challenge
career-victory at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Made to move back to GT in 2007 with Marsh
Racing, driving a Chevrolet Corvette. Won opening rounds at Sebring and the Grand Prix of Long
Beach. Also won Mid-Ohio and Mosport Rounds. Despite collecting four wins, five DNFs limited him
to his third-consecutive fifth-place points finish. In 2008, after a rough start to the season in the
Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette, scored a runner-up finish at Road America and followed
it up with a win at Mosport. Also earned fourth-place finishes at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.
Finished 10th in the SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship. Also entered three SPEED Touring Car events
in a Acura RSX finishing in the top 10 at each. Also Competed in the KONI Challenge winning three
ST races, as well as ALMS.
Personal: Born June 8, 1975. Owns independent Volvo dealership. Enjoys karting and coaching
drivers. Drives a Volvo S60 R on the street. Likes Mexican food. Favorite track is Watkins Glen.
Class
GT
GT
GT
TC
TC
GT
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
TC
GT
WC
Starts
4
4
2
7
2
1
11
10
10
10
3
1
10
76
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
1
0
0
0
7
Top-5
1
2
1
1
0
0
4
7
4
4
0
0
7
31
3
3
1
3
0
1
8
5
8
5
5
5
4
10
3
0
7
5
47
5
The Drivers
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
Totals
JASON DASKALOS
JAY-sun DAH-skuh-los
Albuquerque, N.M.
Age: 38
Career Highlights: 2006 Viper Racing League Champion and Rookie of the
Year.
2009: Despite running only five races, captured three top-fives, including his
first Word Challenge GT win at Mosport.
Previously: Competed in Michelin Challenge Series and Viper Racing League,
capturing the Viper Racing league title in his Rookie season with 14 wins in
23 starts. Entered nine races in 2007 with a Dodge Viper for his rookie season. Best finish was
ninth at Road Atlanta, earning him Piloti Rookie of the Race honors. In 2008, earned six top-10 finishes in his sophomore season driving a Dodge Viper, including a career-best fourth at New Jersey
Motorsports Park, where he earned the Sunoco Hard Charger Award for advancing nine positions in
the race. Also led his first official race lap in rainy Sebring season opener. Ended the season sixth
in the SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship.
101
Personal: Born January 2, 1972. Married to Cindy with two children, Eliana and Petros. Is a commercial developer and general contractor. His first job was in a body shop and he currently drivers
a Hummer H-1 on the street. Lists filet mignon as his favorite food and Entourage as his favorite TV
show. Road Atlanta is his favorite track and Juan Pablo Montoya is his racing hero.
Year
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
9
10
5
24
Wins
0
0
1
1
Top-5
0
1
3
4
1
6
6
4
11
6
BRANDON DAVIS
BRAN-dun DAY-vis
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Age: 24
Career Highlights: 2005 SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year. 2009 SPEED
GT Champion.
The Drivers
2009: Captured the World Challenge GT Driver’s Championship with 10 topten finishes and seven podiums, including a win at Mid-Ohio. Only finished
outside the top-four in one race. Also sat on pole at Mosport, Watkins Glen
and Mid-Ohio. Completed 100 percent of the possible laps during the season.
Previously: Started racing go karts at age seven. Began SCCA Regional and National competition at 16. Participated in first professional race at Portland in June of 2004 and drove in first
SPEED World Challenge race in July at Infineon. In 2005, his rookie SPEED Touring Car season,
earned an impressive eight top-10 finishes in 11 events driving an Acura TSX for RealTime Racing.
Earned first career-pole at Mosport and finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, earning him
Rookie of the Year honors. Earned another nine top-10 finishes in the RealTime Acura TSX in 2006.
Collected first win at the Grand Prix of Denver, where he beat teammate Eric Curran to the line by
0.005-second, the closest finish in series history. Ventured into SPEED GT for the first time driving
his father Mike Davis’ Saleen SR to a 16th place finish at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Earned four
top-10 finishes in 2007 with RealTime Racing. Best result was third at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Also drove Saleen SR for father Mike Davis’ team at Laguna Seca, finishing 12th in only his second
SPEED GT race. Switched full time to SPEED GT with ACS Ford Mustang Cobra in 2008. Ended the
season third in the Drivers’ Championship with six podium finishes, including wins at Long Beach
and Road Atlanta.
Personal: Born Oct. 21, 1985. Works in business marketing and drives a BMW M3 and Ford
Mustang GT 500 on the street. First job was a go-kart instructor. Lists Burn Notice as his favorite
TV show and sushi as his favorite food. Boris Said is his racing hero and Road Atlanta is his favorite
track. Father, Mike, also races in World Challenge.
Year
2004
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2009
Totals
102
Class
TC
TC
GT
TC
TC
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
3
11
1
10
10
1
10
10
56
Wins
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
4
Top-5
0
2
0
3
1
0
7
9
22
0
8
4
0
9
6
4
10
0
7
3
10
1
38
1
MIKE DAVIS
MIKE DAY-vis
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Age: 58
2009: Ran a limited schedule in 2009, but finished a career-best fourth at
his home race at Long Beach. Started first after inversion and led first laps
of his career.
Previously: First race came in 1993 at Willow Springs in California, where he
drove a 1966 427 A/C Cobra to the win. Was in Trans-Am for seven years,
teaming up with Boris Said for ACS Express Racing. In 2002, Mike was the
team owner when Said won the Trans-Am Series Championship. In 2005, had
five SPEED GT starts in a Saleen SR, finished in the top 10 twice, winding up eighth at both Denver
and Laguna Seca. Son Brandon was the 2005 SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year. Entered five
SPEED GT events in 2006 with Ford Mustang Cobra, finishing in the top-10 at the Grand Prix of
Long Beach. Entered two SPEED GT events in 2007 with Ford Mustang Cobra. Best finish was 14th
at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. In 2008, ran first fill season of SPEED GT in Ford Mustang Cobra,
teaming with son Brandon. Earned four top-10 finishes, including starting the season with back-toback seventh place results.
Personal: Born Oct. 8, 1951. Is the co-owner and founder of Applied Computer Solutions, but his
first job was selling newspapers at Bay Meadows race track. Drives a Mercedes CL65 on the street.
Married to Sandy and has sons Brandon (23) and Sean (21). Lists Mark Donahue, A.J. Foyt and
Parnelli Jones as racing heroes. Road America is his favorite track. Favorite food is sushi and favorite
TV show is House.
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
1
2
5
5
2
10
3
28
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
-
0
2
1
0
4
1
8
-
The Drivers
Year
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
TOMY DRISSI
TOM-ee DREE-zee
Hollywood, Calif.
Age: 50
Career Highlights: 1999 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year. 2009 Trans-Am
Series Champion
2009: Ran full season of Trans-Am, scoring one win and winning the series
Championship. Finished 14th in his lone race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Previously: Made 77 Trans-Am starts from 1999 – 2005, earning 38 top-10s,
15 top-fives, one pole and a win at the 2000 Grand Prix of Long Beach. Was
the 1999 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year and named the BBS Most Improved Driver in 2000. Finished
27th in 2000 SPEED GT race at Sears Point driving a Toyota Supra. Drove Chevrolet Corvette in
2006 SPEED GT rounds at Long Beach where he finished ninth and Laguna Seca, finishing 25th.
Qualified a BimmerWorld BMW 325i at Laguna Seca, but did not start the race. Entered four SPEED
GT events in 2007 driving a Chevrolet Corvette, finishing a series-high third at the season opener in
Sebring. In 2008, entered races at Sebring and Long Beach in a Chevrolet Corvette, but was injured
in a practice crash at Long Beach, forcing him to cancel the remainder of his season.
Personal: Born December 9, 1958. Owns advertising firm that produces upcoming film displays
103
for movie theaters. Drives a Chevrolet Suburban on the street. Pizza and cheeseburgers are his
favorite food. Lists Le Mans as his favorite movie. Mario Andretti is his racing hero. Long Beach and
Monaco are his favorite tracks.
Year
2000
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
1
2
4
2
1
10
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
3
-
NICK ESAYIAN
NIK eh-SAY-un
Encinitas, Calif.
Age: 42
The Drivers
2009: Finished ninth in the Touring Car Championship, finishing on the
podium at Road Atlanta and leading the most laps, his first World Challenge
podium.
Previously: Won the SCCA Central Division Regional Championship in 1993
and Milwaukee Region Rookie of the Year in the same year. He finished in
the top 10 in points in the SCCA Central Division from 1994-95, and then
improved to top-five finishes in points from 1996-2002 in the SCCA So Pac
Division. Also, finished in the top 10 in final points in three seasons of Neon Challenge as well as
scoring a top-three finish in final points for the 1999 NASA Touring Car Championship. In 2002,
ran two SPEED Touring Car races in an Acura Integra Type R, with a best finish of 25th at Road
America. In 2003, competed in SCCA National Series finishing third in points in SoPac Division in the
SSB class. Driving for RealTime Racing in 2004, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year points standings and 18th overall in Touring Car after running all 10 events for the first time in career. Best
finish (15th) came at Portland after starting 21st. In 2005, his second full season with RealTime
Racing, posted career-best eighth-place finish at Mosport after qualifying 14th. Including that race,
earned the first four top-10 finishes of his career (St. Petersburg, Portland, Mosport and Laguna
Seca). Finished 12th in the Drivers’ Championship. Finished ninth in the 2006 SPEED Touring Car
Drivers’ Championship racing a RealTime Acura RSX. Earned six top-10 finishes with and finished
a career-best seventh at Sebring. In 2008, first season with BimmerWorld netted Esayian a best
start of fourth and a best finish of sixth as he adapted to the rear-wheel drive BMW E90 platform.
Personal: Born Nov. 7, 1967. Is CEO of Debt Cures, LLC., enjoys golf, tennis, off road motorcycling, politics and the beach. He is married to Carrie and they have two sons Jake and Troy. Drives
a Mercedes Benz S550 on the street. Earned a BBA (Marketing) from the University of Wisconsin
Whitewater and holds and MBA from the University of Redlands.
Year
2002
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
Totals
104
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
GT
TC
GT
WC
Starts
2
10
11
10
10
10
1
10
1
65
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
4
0
0
4
6
9
3
3
0
-
8
9
0
24
9
CHARLES ESPENLAUB
CHAR-uls ES-pen-lob
Lutz, Fla.
Age: 41
2009: Finished a career-best fifth in the Touring Car Championship. Finished
as runner-up three times, at Mosport, Watkins Glen and Road America. Was
the fastest qualifier at Mid-Ohio.
Previously: 1996-2001, ran Speedvision Cup, Porsche Club, HSR, Motorola
Cup and NASA events. Has also competed in SCCA Club Racing, Grand-Am
and Grand-Am Cup. Ran seven Speedvision Touring Car races in 2001, with
a best finish of ninth at Road Atlanta. In 2002, ran a full season in SPEED
Touring Car in a Mazda Protege. He had two top ten finishes and one top five finish coming at
VIRginia International Raceway. In 2003, ran a full season in SPEED Touring Car driving a Mazda
Protege E9 ES and recorded a season-best 10th place finish at Sebring after qualifying ninth.
Competed in one SPEED GT race (Sebring) finishing 13th. In 2004, turned in three top-10 finishes, including a second-place run at Mosport after starting 28th. In 2005, after beginning season
in familiar Mazda Protege, switched to MAZDA6 for Tindol Motorsports. In the MAZDA6, earned
the first win of his career at Mosport after starting second. Also, earned the first pole position of
his career at Cleveland before finishing second. In all, had seven top-10, four top-five and three
podium finishes en route to finishing seventh in the Drivers’ Championship. In 2006, his second
season with Tindol Motorsports, racked up six top-10 finishes and four top-five finished en route
to finishing eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. Best result was second at Road America where he
started on pole. In his third year with Tindol Motorsports, earned six top-10 finishes and two topfive finishes in 2007. Best finish was third in the second half of the Watkins Glen doubleheader. In
2008, switched to Tri-Point team, still piloting a MAZDA6. Earned seven top-10 finishes, including
back-to-back fourth-place results at Sebring and VIR, where he qualified second. Ended the season
eighth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Personal: Born Sept. 22, 1968. Is single and works as a driving instructor at the Panoz Racing
School. Drives a VW Eurovan and a Nissan pickup on the street. Favorite movie is Fight Club and
racing heroes are Andy Pilgrim and Michael Galati.
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
1
7
11
10
1
1
8
11
10
10
10
10
90
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Top-5
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
4
4
2
4
4
20
0
1
2
1
0
0
3
7
7
6
8
6
9
7
8
8
5
41
5
The Drivers
Year
1999
2001
2002
2003
2003
2004
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
105
RON FELLOWS
Rahn FELL-loz
Mississauga, Ontario
Age: 50
Career Highlights: Has three World Challenge wins in just 14 starts, all with
Team Cadillac prior to this season. Has won the 24 Hours of Daytona overall,
and has three class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Has also won twice at
Sebring.
Previously: Won his first championship in 1987, driving in the Player’s/GM
Challenge series. Won 19 SCCA Trans-Am races in 95 starts. A long time
driver for Corvette Racing in the American Le Mans Series and around the
world, earned his first win for the team in 2000. In 2001, earned an overall win in the Rolex 24 at
Daytona and a GTS class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Earned another GTS win at the 24 Hours
of Le Mans in 2002, and seven wins in the Corvette in the U.S. Was the ALMS GTS co-champion in
2003. Repeated as GTS champion in 2004. Earned a World Challenge win Team Cadillac at Mosport.
Earned another World Challenge win at Mosport in 2005 for Team Cadillac, his only World Challenge
start that season. Won the 2006 World Challenge race at Long Beach with a last-lap pass, again for
Team Cadillac. Earned a pole and two runner-up finishes in World Challenge in 2007. Ran NASCAR
Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races, finishing fourth in Montreal and Watkins Glen. In 2008,
won at Sebring and Road Atlanta for Corvette racing. Won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Race in
Montreal for JR Motorsports.
Personal: Born September 28, 1959. Is married to Lynda, with three children – Lindsay, Sam and
Patrick. In 2007, Corvette released the limited edition Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette
Z06, the first signed special edition in Corvette’s history.
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
Total
Class
GT
GT GT
GT
WC
Starts
3
1
5
5
14
Wins
1
1
1
0
3
Top-5
1
1
4
2
8
3
1
4
3
11
-
The Drivers
ERIC FOSS
AIR-ik FAWS
Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 36
Career Highlights: 2008 MX-5 Cup Champion. 2008 SCCA Spec Miata
National Champion. 2009 World Challenge Touring Car Rookie of the Year.
2009: Finished Touring Car Championship in seventh place on his way to
2009 Rookie of the Year title. Finished in the top-10 eight times, including a
high of fourth at Sebring. Was the fastest qualifier at Mosport.
Previously: Has 17 years of SCCA Solo and Club Racing experience, even
running select Speedvision Cup races in 1997. Has competed in the Spec Miata class for two years.
Has been a driving instructor for more than 10 years with Panoz, the Porsche Driving School
and MER Spec Miata Advanced Clinic. In 2006 was named Atlanta Region National Driver of the
Year. Entered first MX-5 Cup race in 2007 finishing third after starting from pole. In 2008, won
the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup, earning him a spot in a Mazda for the 2009
SPEED Touring Car season as part of the MAZDASPEED driver development program. Won 2008
SCCA Spec Miata National Championship.
106
Personal: Born December 28, 1973 and is married to Tila. Drives a Mazda RX-8 on the street and
enjoys Mexican food. South Park is his favorite TV show. Klaus Ludwig is his racing hero and Road
Atlanta is his favorite track.
Year
2009
Totals
Class
TC
WC
Starts
10
10
Wins
0
0
Top-5
3
3
8
7
8
7
ROB FOSTER
ROB FOS-tur
Phoenix, Ariz.
Age: 49
2009: Finished 21st at Long Beach in his lone GT start.
Previously: Has successfully competed in the Viper Racing League since
1999. Took third in overall points in VRL in 2001 and second in points in
2002. First event resulted in a sixth-place finish in a VRL event at Road
America in August 1999. Has also driven in NASA and ASRA events. Ran
one World Challenge GT race in a Mustang at Road Atlanta in 2000. In 2004,
competed in two SPEED GT events, finishing 14th at Laguna Seca (WC careerhigh) after starting 22nd. Earned the first two top-10 finishes of his career in 2005, with a best
finish of ninth at Road Atlanta (finished 10th at St. Pete). Campaigned first full season of SPEED GT
piloting a Dodge Viper in 2006 and earned seven top-10 finishes. Best race finish was sixth at Long
Beach, earning him the Piloti Rookie of the Race award. Finished ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Entered Rounds One through Six in 2007 driving a Dodge Viper earning two top-five finishes, including a career-best fourth at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Switched to a Chevrolet Corvette for rounds
seven through 10. Entered five GT races in 2008, four at the wheel of a Chevrolet Corvette, but
best result came at Road America, finishing seventh in a Dodge Viper.
Personal: Born April 2, 1960. Drives a Dodge Viper on the street. Listens to classic rock and says
VIRginia International Raceway is favorite track. Also likes to ride snowmobiles and four-wheelers.
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
1
2
2
10
10
5
1
31
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
2
7
9
3
10
1
0
13
9
The Drivers
Year
2000
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
TONY GAPLES
TONY GA-puls
Lake Forest, Ill.
Age: 43
2009: Finished a career best seventh in the GT Championship. Had seven
top-10 finishes, with a best of fourth at Sebring. Earned Sunoco Hard Charger
of the Year award.
Previously: Ran Ferarri Challenge in 2001, finishing second at VIR and third
at Indianapolis events and finishing third in final points tandings. Won the
2002 SCCA Central Division Championship in T1. Ran two SPEED GT races in
a Corvette Z06, with a season-best finish of 16th at Road America in 2002.
In 2003, ran his first full season of SPEED GT and recorded one top-10 finish in season fianale in
107
Puerto Rico. Finished third in Rookie of the Year points. In 2004, ran three SPEED GT events, with
best finish (11th) coming at Mid-Ohio. Had a career year in 2005, finishing a personal-best second
at Infineoon behind Lou Gigliotti. Made 11 starts, had six top-10 finishes to finish eighth in the
SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship - the first time to finish in the top 10. Entered seven SPEED GT
races in 2006 driving a Chevrolet Corvette, earning two top-ten finishes. Best result was ninth at St.
Petersburg. Collected three top-10 finishes 2007 driving a Blackdog Racing Corvette. Best finish was
seventh at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In 2008, earned four top-10 results driving a Blackdog Racing
Chevrolet Corvette en route to finishing ninth in the SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship.
Personal: Born May 11, 1966. Drives a 1999 Porsche Convertible on the street. Likes Filet Mignon,
the movie Kill Bill and all types of guitar music (blues, jazz, rock). His favorite track is Sebring and
considers Michael Schumacher his racing hero.
Year
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
2
10
10
11
7
9
10
9
68
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
1
1
6
8
2
3
4
9
7
7
24
7
DAN GARDNER
Dan GARD-nur
Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Age: 35
Previously: Has raced a variety of pro and amateur race series since 2005.
Drove in Grand-Am KONI Challenge in 2008. Ran the team that won the
Touring 2 class at last year’s World Challenge finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca.
The Drivers
Personal: Born April 25, 1974. Names Miller Motorsports Park and Infineon
Raceway as his favorite tracks. Fringe and Modern Family are among his
favorite television programs.
MIKE HARTLEY
MEYEK HART-lee
West Deptford, NJ
Age: 52
2009: Ran two GT races, with a best finish of ninth at New Jersey, his careerbest finish in a Dodge Viper.
Previously: Ran a dozen World Challenge races off and on from 2003 through
2009. Also has raced in the Viper Racing league.
Personal: Born Aug. 13, 1957 and is single. Drives a Dodge truck on the
street. Favorite foods are steak and lobster. Favorite track is Watkins Glen
and racing hero is Ayrton Senna. Enjoys watching the Discovery Channel.
108
Year
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2009
Totals Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
3
3
2
1
1
2
12
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
-
MARK HEIN
MARK HEYEN
Clearwater, Fla.
Age: 51
Previously: Was a full series competitor in the IMSA Endurance Series from
1991-1997, winning 12 races. Has competed in international FIA events in
Belgium, England and Germany. Was named the Rising Star of the 1995
IMSA Endurance Series, and placed in the top-five in the 1993, 1995, 1996
and 1997 championships. Made 13 World Challenge Touring Car starts from
2001-2006.
Personal: Born August 6, 1958. Married to Vicki. His favorite food is barbecue, and How I Met Your Mother is his favorite television program. Sportscar legend Hurly Haywood
is his racing hero, and the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is his favorite.
Year
2001
2002
2003
2005
2006
Total
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
5
4
2
1
1
13
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
Career Highlights: 2002 Mazdaspeed Miata Cup Atlantic Tour Champion.
2009: Ran two races in a Mazda6, finishing fifth at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca.
Previously: Began racing at 16 and placed seventh in his first-career MidAtlantic Road Racing Series race at Summit Point in a Mazda RX-7. Has
competed in the Grand Am Cup series. In 2003, scored five wins (BeaveRun
Motorsports Complex, Lime Rock Park, VIRginia International Raceway, Road America and Gratt0n
Raceway) and had nine podium finishes in 11 races en route to winning the inaugural Mazdaspeed
Miata Cup Atlantic Tour Championship. Driving in the Spec Miata classes, Herr also won the SCCA
American Road Race of Championships (ARRC) Championship and the SCCA Mid-Atlantic Road
Racing Series Championship (MARRS). In 2004, finished second in SPEED Touring Car Rookie of
the Year standings (25 points behind RoY Dino Crescentini) after posting three top-10 finishes in
10 starts. Best finish was sixth at Lime Rock after starting fifth. Also ran two SPEED GT events
with Tiger Racing, with a 12th-place finish at Mosport a season-high. After joining the Techsport
team in the middle of the 2005, piloted Air Force Reserve Ford Focus to its highest qualifying mark
ever when he took the pole for the Denver race, where he finished fourth. Had an additional topfive showing at Road Atlanta (fifth), and finished 15th in the Drivers’ Championship. Also drove in
two GT races, with his best outing coming at Mosport where he finished seventh. In 2006, drove
full SPEED Touring Car season in a STaSIS Audi A4. Earned first-career win at Mid-Ohio and fol2010 World Challenge Media Guide
109
The Drivers
CHIP HERR
CHIP HER
Lititz, Pa.
Age: 27
lowed it up with wins at Road America and Mosport. An additional podium at Road Atlanta and a
total of seven top-ten finishes propelled him to a third place finish in the Drivers’ Championship,
his highest-ever points finish. Won the opening round of the SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in his only appearance. Continued with STaSIS at the wheel of an Audi
A4 in 2007. Earned six top-10 finishes, including a win a Lime Rock Park and runner-up finishes at
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Mosport. Finished sixth in the SPEED Touring Car Championship.
Entered Watkins Glen SPEED GT race with Tiger Racing in a Chevrolet Corvette, but did not finish.
Driving a Tindol Motorsports MAZDA6 in 2008, collected seven top-five finishes in SPEED Touring
Car to finish fourth in the standings. Earned four pole positions and won races at Lime Rock Park
and Road Atlanta.
Personal: Born May 17, 1982. Enjoys spaghetti, pizza and ice cream. Likes the TV show Two and
a Half Men. Listens to rap and country music. His favorite movie is Days of Thunder and his racing
heroes are Lewis Hamilton and Charles Espenlaub. His favorite track is VIR.
Year
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2007
2007
2008
2009
Totals Class
GT
TC
GT
TC
TC
GT
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
2
10
2
10
10
1
10
10
2
57
Wins
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
2
0
6
Top-5
0
0
0
2
6
0
4
7
1
20
0
3
1
2
7
3
0
6
6
9
4
1
29
3
SHEA HOLBROOK
Shay HOLE-brook
Groveland, Fla.
Age: 19
The Drivers
Previously: Started racing at 16 after participating in the Richard Petty
Experience. Has raced in SCCA Club Racing and was the first female alternate
for the 2008 SCCA Pro Racing VW TDI Cup.
Personal: Born April 10, 1990. Earned the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
scholarship from the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, started by Lyn
St. James. Is an accomplished nationally competitive water skier. Majoring in
Public Relations at Valencia College.
BRENT HOLDEN
Brent HOLE-duhn
Newport Beach, Calif.
Age: 53
Previously: Is in his fourth year of racing. Has participated in the Patron GT3
Challenge and Porsche Club of America events.
Personal: Born October 12, 1956. Is married to Cheryl, and has two children
– Trevor and Hunter. Names Miller Motorsports Park as his favorite track, and
Felipe Massa as his racing hero. Lists steak and fries as his favorite foods, and
enjoys watching CSI-Miami on television.
110
PIERRE KLEINUBING
pee-AIR KLINE-you-bing
Erexim, Brazil (Resides in Florida)
Age: 35
Career Highlights: Three-time Brazilian karting champion. 1992 & 1995
Brazilian Touring Car Champion. 1997 World Challenge T2 Champion and
Rookie of the Year. 2000 and 2001 Speedvision Touring Car Champion. 2006
SPEED Touring Car Champion, 2009 Touring Car Champion.
2009: Earned his fifth World Challenge Touring Car Drivers’ Championship
in a RealTime Acura TSX, making up 54 points with a win and a pole at the
season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Also won at Road America.
Collected four more podium finishes.
Personal: Born Oct. 24, 1974 and is married to Carla. Outside of racing, Pierre enjoys soccer, water
skiing and go karting. Drives an Acura RL on the street.
111
The Drivers
Previously: Began racing karts in Brazil in 1989, winning three-straight championships before
entering the Brazilian Touring Car Championship in 1992. Won seven races from 1992 through
1995, where he won the series championship with four wins. Moved to the United States in 1996,
where he drove in IMSA endurance races, and won the 24 Hours of Moroso. In 1997, made his
World Challenge debut with a runner-up finish at St. Petersburg, and would score top-five finishes
in his first five races. Scored his first race win at Mosport Park , and proceeded to win the following
race at Pikes Peak en route to Rookie of the Year honors and a T2 Drivers’ Championship in his
inaugural campaign. Also posted the fastest race lap at Mid-Ohio and won the pole at Mosport Park
(both track records). In 1998, finished runner-up in the T2 Drivers’ Championship behind teammate Michael Galati with three wins (Topeka, Lime Rock and Pikes Peak), six total podiums, three
poles (Topeka, Trois-Rivieres and Watkins Glen) and four fastest race laps, while setting four track
records. In 1999, finished runner-up in SPEED Touring Car with two wins (Trois-Rivieres and Laguna
Seca) and a season-high eight pole positions with RealTime Racing in an Integra. In 2000, won the
SPEED Touring Car Championship in a RealTime Racing Acura Integra R with three wins. Finished
with eight top-10s and top-fives in nine starts, along with seven podium finishes and five poles. In
2001, Won the SPEED Touring Car Championship for the second-straight year in a RealTime Racing
Acura Integra R. Earned $80,685 and accepted the third World Challenge title of his career (the
other coming in 1997). The Brazilian finished out of the top-five and top-10 only once, recording
four poles (tying Cunningham and Gigliotti for the all-time career lead) and three wins to clinch
the Championship with 257 points. In 2002, finished second in the final SPEED Touring Car point
standings, his sixth top-two finish in the series in six years. Drove RealTime Racing Acura Integra
R to three wins, seven podiums nine top-10 finishes in an 11-race season. In 2003, finished second
in the final SPEEDTouring Car point standings for the fourth time in seven years. Recorded three
wins (Mosport, Lime Rock and Road Atlanta), seven top-fives and had one pole position (Road
Atlanta) in a RealTime Racing Acura RSX-S. In 2004, ran full slate of events for the eighth-straight
season with RealTime Racing. Posted two wins, five top-five and six top-10 finishes in an Acura
TSX on his way to ending up seventh in the SPEED Touring Car Championship. Two wins came at
Portland and Road Atlanta. Set the fastest qualifying mark at Laguna Seca before finishing fourth,
and recorded race’s fastest lap during winning run at Portland. 2004 was the first time he did not
finish either first or second in the Championship. Continueing to drive an Acura TSX in 2005, led all
of World Challenge in victories with three, which came consecutively at Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio and
Cleveland. Overall, tallied six top-five and nine top-10 finishes to finish third the SPEED Touring
Car Drivers’ Championship. Won 2006 SPEED Touring Car championship driving a RealTime Acura
TSX. Collected seven podiums, including back-to-back wins at Infineon and Miller Motorsports Park,
four consecutive poles (Mid-Ohio, Infineon, Miller Motorsports Park and Denver), and finished nine
of 10 rounds in the top-five. Helped Acura to its sixth Manufacturers’ Title. Collected seven top-five
finishes in 2007, his first winless season in World Challenge. Was the polesitter at Lime Rock Park
and set the fastest race lap at Sebring and Miller Motorsports Park. Finished fourth in the Drivers’
Championship. Started the 2008 season with a win from pole at Sebring in a RealTime Acura TSX.
Collected six more podium finishes before ending the season second in the SPEED Touring Car
Drivers’ Championship, five points behind team owner Peter Cunningham.
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
T2
T2
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
10
9
10
9
10
11
10
10
11
10
10
10
10
130
Wins
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
0
1
2
29
Top-5
8
6
8
8
9
7
7
5
6
9
7
7
8
95
9
1
6
2
9
2
8
1
9
1
9
2
7
2
6
7
9
3
10
1
7
4
9
2
10
1
108
1
BRIAN KUBINSKI
BREI-in Koo-BIN-ski
Plainfield, Ill.
Age: 36
Career Highlights: 2007 SPEED GT Rookie of the Year.
The Drivers
2009: Ran three races in a Chevrolet Corvette, finishing on the podium at
Autobahn.
Previous: More than 20 years racing experience, beginning with karts and
continuing with Skip Barber Formula Fords, Zerex Saab Pro Series, MidAmerican Stock Car Series, ASA Stock Cars and NASCAR Short Track Late
Models, SCCA Club Racing, Trans Am Pro Series and American GT. Was the 2003 SCCA Central
Division points champion in GT-1. Entered first SPEED GT races in 2006 at Road America and Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca driving a Chevrolet Corvette. Posted a mechanical DNF at Road America and
a 21st at Laguna Seca. Driving a Chevrolet Corvette in 2007, posted top-10 finishes at Watkins
Glen, Mid-Ohio and Mosport, where he finished a career-high fifth. Tied Jeffrey Robbins in the Piloti
SPEED GT Rookie of the Year points, but collected the title thanks to his strong finish at Mosport.
Entered four SPEED GT races in 2008, driving a CRP Racing Corvette. The team’s attempt at a full
season was hampered by a trailer fire after Sebring. Tied career-best finish of fifth at Road America.
Personal: Born December 8, 1973. Is the Vice President of Diamond Unlimited. Drives a Yukon
Denali on the street. Is married to Carrie with two children (Jake and Zach). Favorite food is chicken
marsala. The Grand Prix of Toronto street course is his favorite track. Scott Pruett and Ron Fellows
are his racing heroes.
Year
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
112
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
2
10
4
3
19
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
1
1
1
3
0
3
1
1
5
-
THOMAS LEPPER
THA-muhss LEP-per
Benicia, Calif.
Age: 55
Previously: Began his racing career in 1982, driving Formula Fords. Since
then, has raced a number of amateur and professional series. Has spent the
past five seasons running a Chevrolet Cobalt SS in a variety of Touring Car
series.
Personal: Born December 26, 1954. Married to Robyn, and has four children.
Names Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as his favorite track, and The Unit as his
favorite television show.
PATRICK LINDSEY
PAT-trick LIND-see
New York, N.Y.
Age: 27
2009: Ran the last four Touring Car event in a Mazda6, finishing third at Road
America. Qualified second-fastest at Road America and Mid-Ohio.
Previously: Raced in Performance Touring, TT and American Iron series with
NASA. Was the 2006 NASA National Champion in PTA/TTA. Won an American
Iron race at the wheel of a Ford Mustang. Continued racing American Iron
Mustangs in 2007, winning five races in seven starts. Made SPEED Touring Car
debut in 2007 driving a MAZDA6 for Horton Motorsports at Mazda Raceway
Laguna Seca, finished 12th. Raced a Horton Motorsports MAZDA 6 in 2008, his first full season
of SPEED Touring Car. Highest finish of 10th came at Miller Motorsports Park. Qualified second at
Road Atlanta.
Year
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
1
10
4
15
Wins
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
2
2
0
1
4
10
5
10
RITCH MARZIALE
RITCH mar-zee-ALL
Tempe, Ariz.
Age: 49
2009: Entered four GT races, tying a career-best finish of eighth at Road
America in a Dodge Viper.
Previously: Has won several titles outside of World Challenge. Was the 1999
Viper Days Unlimted Champion. Also won the 2000 Viper Days National Final
Pro Class title. Finished first in the 2001 Grand American Sun Automotive 200
GTO Class. Competed in one SPEED GT event in both 2003 (17th - Infineon
Raceway) and 2004 (18th - Mid-Ohio), driving a Dodge Viper. Competed in
five events in 2005, and notched first top-10 finish with a seventh at Cleveland after starting 13th.
113
The Drivers
Personal: Born April 22, 1982. First job was at Starbucks, but is currently a stock broker with
Sloan Securities. Drives a Chevy truck on the street. Enjoys hibachi food and lists Family Guy as
his favorite TV show. Hobbies include golf and shooting as well as spending time with his family in
Santa Barbra. Lists Townsend Bell and World Challenge competitor Ron Fellows as his racing heroes.
Infineon Raceway is his favorite track.
Placed in the top 15 in three of the five events overall. Took part in a career-high eight SPEED GT
events in 2006 piloting a Dodge Viper. Best result was eighth place at Mid-Ohio and Road America.
Entered four 2007 SPEED GT events in Dodge Viper with a best finish of 10th at Mazda Raceway
Laguna Seca. Entered six SPEED GT races in a Dodge Viper in 2008, qualifying as high as second
at Miller Motorsports Park. Equaled career-best finish of eighth at Watkins Glen.
Personal: Born Nov. 5, 1960. Is the CEO of Marziale Ent. Is married to Barbie and has three children – Marissa, Larsen and Reese. Lists Creed as his favorite band and drives a Jeep on the street.
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is his favorite track.
Year
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
1
1
5
8
4
6
4
29
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
6
-
TIM McKENZIE
TIM mi-KEN-zee
Middleton, Wis.
Age: 53
2009: Drove a Porsche 911 GT3 at Sebring and Autobahn.
The Drivers
Previously: Competed in nine Grand-Am GT races from 2004 - 2006 and
more than 40 Porsche Club of America GT races. Entered four 2007 races
with a Porsche 911 GT3, finishing in the top 10 in all but one. Finished 10th
in World Challenge debut at Sebring, earning the Piloti Rookie of the Race
Award. Best finish was ninth at Mid-Ohio. Entered seven SPEED GT races in
2008, with Porsche 911 GT3. Best finish was eighth at Road Atlanta.
Personal: Born June 13, 1956. Drives an Audi A8 on the street and works as a builder/developer,
but his first job was as a painter. The Late Show with David Letterman is his favorite TV program.
Lists Mario Andretti and Tony Stewart as his racing heroes and Road Atlanta as his favorite track.
Is married to Mary Ann and has three children: Alex, Jessie and Katie.
Year
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
4
7
2
13
Wins
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
4
-
ERIC MEYER
AIR-ik MY-ur
Bryan, Ohio
Age: 45
Previously: Has five years of SCCA Club road racing experience. Has run
parts of the last two seasons with Grand-Am.
Personal: Born December 9, 1964. President of XOWii Racing (pronounced
Zow-wee). Favorite food is seafood, and watches the History Channel. Lists
Mario Andretti as a racing hero, and as a youngster watch Andretti win the
1969 Indianapolis 500.
114
CHARLES MORGAN
CHAR-uls MORE-gin
Dallas, Texas
Age: 67
2009: Raced at Autobahn, Road America and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
in World Challenge GT.
Previously: The 1993 IMSA GTO Champion is ranked third on the all-time
driver point standings list. Has two class wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona and
two class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
Personal: Born Feb. 4, 1943. Is a retired CEO of Axciom Corporation. Married
to Susie with two children: Caroline and Rob. Graduate from the University of Arkansas with a
degree in Mechanical Engineering. Designed the Acxiom NASCAR truck road race chassis and was
occasional test driver. Regularly pilots Falcon and Citation jets.
Year
2009
Totals
Class
GT
WC
Starts
3
3
Wins
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
-
ROB MORGAN
ROB MORE-gin
Costa Mesa, Calfi.
Age: 36
2009: Raced five times in a Porsche 911 GT3, earning two top-10 finishes
(Autobahn and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca).
Personal: Born November 11, 1973. Owns TruSpeed Motorcars, but first job was washing cars.
Is married to Vicki with two children: Makenna and Lainey. Drives a Porsche on the street. Enjoys
watching SPEED and eating Italian food. Lists Charles Morgan as his driving hero and Mosport as
his favorite track.
Year
2009
Totals
Class
GT
WC
Starts
5
5
Wins
0
0
Top-5
0
0
2
2
-
115
The Drivers
Previously: Began racing at the age of 18 in IMSA’s Firestone Firehawk
Series. Began GTO racing in 1994 and moved to GTS-1 in 1995. Earned
Oldsmobile’s 100th road racing victory at Mosport in 1995 and was named
GTS-1 Most Improved Driver. Won the GTS-1 Class at the 1996 24 Hours of
Daytona. Entered Exxon World Sports Car Category in 1997 driving a Ferarri
333SP. Won at Mosport co-driving with Ron Fellows to score Ferarri their first win in Canada since
1964 and won Most Improved Driver. Also in 1997 entered two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
races. Raced a partial Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 1998 before competed full time in 1999
and 2000. Qualified second at Texas Motor Speedway in 2000 and earned a career high finish of
fifth at Heartland Park Topeka. Finished eighth in first SCCA Trans-Am race at Road America in
2001. Finished second in GTS at 2002 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Took GTS wins at Watkins Glen
and Daytona finale, securing the 2002 Team Championship. Finished second in class again at 2003
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. Raced Daytona Prototypes from 2005 – 2007.
KIP OLSON
Kip OLL-suhn
Sacramento, Calif.
Age: 45
Previously: Was the 2002 and 2003 NCK Shifter Kart Class Champion. Spent
2009 driving in SCCA Club Racing, earning the San Francisco Region Driver
of the Year award.
Personal: Born January 4, 1965. Married to Jodi and has three daughters –
Ashley, Megan and Samantha. His favorite television show is Touched By An
Angel. Road America is his favorite track.
STEVE OTT
STEEV AHT
Houston, Texas
Age: 28
Previously: Began racing in SCCA’s Spec Racer Ford category in 1999 at age
18. Competed in various SCCA Club Racing classes and scored three Rocky
Mountain Division Championships (2001 SRF, 2002 SRF and 2004 DSR).
Finished runner-up in 2004 DSR National Championship Runoffs. In 2006,
signed on to run Champ Car Atlantic Series. Best finish was third at the Grand
Prix of Cleveland. Returned to Club Racing in 2007 and finished third in Spec
Miata at the Runoffs. Competed in Grand Am Cup ST class in 2008, scoring
a pole, a podium and several top 10 finishes. Led most laps that year in an
RX-8 despite missing the opening round.
Personal: Born June 23, 1981 and is not married. Works as Service Manager at DriverSource in
Houston but his first job was at IHOP. Favorite track is Watkins Glen. Favorite food is chicken tequila
fetuccini from California Pizza Kitchen. Drives a Toyota Tacoma on the street. Favorite television
show is House. Lists Mario Andretti as his racing hero.
The Drivers
BRANDEN PETERSON
BRAN-den PEET-ur-sun
Breckenridge, Colo.
Age: 37
2009: Ran three Touring Car races in an Acura TSX, earning a career-best
tenth place finish at Mid-Ohio.
Previously: Spent nine years competing in SCCA Club Racing ITA. Finished
first in class at 12 Hours of Summit Point in 2001 and 2002. Also won class
at 6 Hours of Gingerman in 2001 and the 10 Hours of Gingerman in 2003. In
2004, his first year of SPEED Touring Car competition, had a best finish of 21st
at Infineon after starting 30th. Ran three events overall in a Honda Civic Si.
Competed in four Touring Car races in 2005, finished a career-best 17th at Denver after starting
20th - also a personal best. Overall, notched the first pair of top-20 finishes of career. Entered the
Grand Prix of Denver in 2006 and Finished 19th behind the wheel of a Honda Civic Si. Entered 2007
SPEED Touring Car races at Miller Motorsports Park and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in an Acura
TSX. Finished 17th and 19th, respectively. Entered three SPEED Touring Car events in 2008, driving
an Acura TSX. Earned a career-best finish of 13th at Mid-Ohio.
Personal: Born Sept. 12, 1972. Married to Carisa. Drives a Porsche 914 and lists The Life of Ryan
as his favorite TV show. Enjoys Thai food and lists snowboarder as his occupation. First job was
working at a water park. High Plains Raceway is his favorite track and Tom Sneva is his racing hero.
116
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
3
4
1
2
3
3
16
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
-
MICHAEL PETTIFORD
MY-kuhl PET-ih-furd
Louisville, Colo.
Previously: Was named the 1991 Rookie of the Year after finishing fourth in
the Truck Guard/Shellzone Challenge Series Finished fifth in World Challenge
B Class in 1992. Has made 12 starts and held a very successful career in
SCCA Club Racing.
Personal: President of GO 4 IT Racing Schools since 1985. Racing career
has included cars, trucks, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Finished 4th
in class in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on a motorcycle in 2009.
Year
1991
1992
1997
1998
2000
Totals
Class
SP
B
T1
T1
GT
WC
Starts
3
5
1
2
1
12
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
3
1
0
0
4
Top-10
1
4
1
0
0
6
Pts. Fin. (T10)
5
5
ANDY PILGRIM
ANN-dee PILL-grim
Del Ray Beach, Fla.
Age: 53
2009: Finished fourth in the GT Championship in a K-Pax Volvo S60. Earned
wins at New Jersey Motorsports Park and Road America, and a total of six
top-five finishes, in his first year driving a Volvo.
Previously: From 1978-1980, competed in open-class and modified production motorcycles in
England. Captured 71 wins and five Divisional and National Championships during that time. Moved
to the United States in the early 1980s and began racing professionally in 1984. Driving a Pontiac
Firebird, grabbed his first professional win in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship
at Sears Point in 1986. Won 20 Firehawk series races in 106 starts over the next decade. His record
of 116 consecutive race finishes in IMSA/PSCR events is unprecedented. Made 23 World Challenge
starts from 1990-1994 and 1996. In those starts, Pilgrim recorded four wins, 11 top-fives, and 22
top 10 finishes. In 1994, won one race in the IMSA Supercar Series driving a Lotus. Captured six
wins en route to winning the IMSA Grand Sport Endurance Championship in 1995. In 1996, won
the GTS-2 12 Hours of Sebring and won two World Challenge races (Road America, Reno) in three
starts. In 1997, had four race wins en route to winning the PSCR GT1 Championhsip driving a
Porsche 911 GT1 with Alan McNish. Won the PSCR GT1 Championship in 1998 and had two PSCR
GT2 wins that same year. From 1999-2003, Pilgrim recorded seven GTS wins, driving a Corvette,
in the American Le Mans Series. Class win in the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2002. In 2003, drove a
Daytona Prototype to victory circle at the Rolex 24 in Grand-Am. Made immediate impact in 2004
as one of General Motors’ Cadillac CTS-V program pilots, earning a podium (2nd place at Sebring)
in his debut while recording the fastest race lap in a charge from the back of the field. Finished the
117
The Drivers
Career Highlights: 1995 IMSA Grand Sport Endurance Champion. 1997 and
1998 IMSA GT1 Champion. 2004 Rolex 24 At Daytona overall winner. 2005
SPEED GT Drivers’ Champion.
season with six top-5 finishes and eight top-10 marks overall. Earned first GT Drivers’ Championship
in 2005 without winning a single race, using eight top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. Best finish
came at Road Atlanta, where he finished second in a podium sweep by Team Cadillac. His efforts
also helped propel Cadillac to the SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship. In 2006, finished all
but one race in the top-10, with five top-five finishes and four podiums. Finished season third in
the Drivers’ Championship. Broke a 10-year (29-race) series winless streak with a victory at Road
Atlanta. Finished second in the 2007 SPEED GT Championship with Team Cadillac. Finished only one
race outside the top-10 and collected wins at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca. Set the Watkins qualifying lap record in his Cadillac CTS-V and helped the marque earn its
second SPEED GT Manufacturers’ title. Finished as the runner-up in the 2008 SPEED GT Drivers’
Championship piloting a Cadillac CTS-V for Team Remington Cadillac. Started the season with a
streak of five podium finishes in-a-row. Capped off the season with an additional three podiums in
the final three rounds.
Personal: Born Aug. 18, 1956. Drives a Cadillac CTS-V and Mini Cooper S on the street. Owns an
IT company, but first job was working at an insulin plant. Favorite food is sushi and enjoys the cartoon Squidbillies. Monza is his favorite track. Lists Senna, Hailwood and Clark as his racing heroes.
The Drivers
Year
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1996
1996
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
WC
WC
D
A
A
WC
S2
S1
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
8
8
1
1
1
1
2
1
10
11
10
10
10
10
84
Wins
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
2
0
2
9
Top-5
2
4
1
0
0
1
2
1
6
8
5
7
8
6
51
7
6
8
3
1
1
1
1
2
1
4
8
5
11
1
9
3
9
2
9
2
7
4
75
1
RANDY POBST
RAN-dee POBST
Gainesville, Ga.
Age: 52
Career Highlights: Porsche (2001), Audi (2003-04) and Mazda (2005-07)
factory driver, second on all-time active road racing drivers’ career win list
with more than 70 victories. 1992 Valvoline Runoffs Showroom Stock C
Champion, 1995 Valvoline Runoffs Showroom Stock A Champion, 1996 North
American Super Touring Champion, 1997 North American Super Touring
Series Champion, Won the 2001 and 2006 Daytona 24 Hour race in GT class.
Six SCCA Solo National Championships. 2003. 2007 and 2008 SPEED GT
Champion.
2009: Finished sixth in the GT Championship in a K-Pax Volvo S60. Won at Autobahn for his 22
career win, and finished second to his teammate at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Also finished 2nd
at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Was the fastest qualifier at Long Beach and Road America.
Previously: Began racing in 1985 at Sebring. Won six SCCA national Solo championships.
Prepared and raced his own Mazda Miata in SCCA Club Racing events from 1992 through 1995, finishing first or second every year, including a win in 1992. Also won the 1995 Runoffs in SSA driving
a BMW. Won two Firestone Firehawk championships. Has had six starts at the SCCA Runoffs. Has
two touring car championships. Won the 2001 24 hour race at Daytona. In 2001 signed a deal with
Porsche as a factory driver. In 2002, missing three races he was still able to finish third in points in
the SPEED GT. driving a Porsche. Competed in ALMS and Grand Am. Also, drove in four ALMS races
in the GT class, with a season-best finish of second in class at the Petit Le Mans. Finished fourth in
118
Worldwide Porsche Cup point championship. In 2003, drove a factory Audi RS 6 en route to winning
the SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship. In 10 SPEED GT races, Pobst recorded two wins (Road Atlanta
and Puerto Rico), eight podium finishes, started from the pole position three times and set one fast
race lap record (Puerto Rico). Helped Audi win its second SPEED GT Manufacturers’ Championship.
In 2004, earned one win (Lime Rock) in 10 SPEED GT starts. Finished first or second in four of five
events during one stretch. Drove an Audi R 6 for Champion Racing and nailed down fastest qualifier
twice (Lime Rock and Road America). Also turned in fastest race lap at both Lime Rock and MidOhio. Finished second in the 2005 Touring Car Drivers’ Championship on the strength of two wins
(St. Pete, Portland), four poles (St. Pete, Mid-Ohio, Infineon, Portland) and seven front-row starts.
Led Mazda to a second-place finish in the Manufacturers’ Championship. Finished runner-up in 2006
SPEED TC Drivers’ Championship in second year with the Tri-Point Mazda team. Took the pole and
win at St. Petersburg and returned to the top of the podium again with a victory at Road Atlanta.
Claimed a total of seven top-five finishes and only once finished outside the top-10 (Laguna Seca).
Also contested two SPEED GT rounds in an At Speed Porsche 911 Cup, finishing eighth at Road
Atlanta and helping Porsche win the Manufacturers’ Championship by winning the season finale at
Laguna Seca. Had a busy 2007 season; competed in both categories, driving a Porsche 911 GT3
for K-PAX Racing/Jim Haughey LLC, and a Mazda6 for Tri-Point Motorsports, his third year with
the team. Finished second in SPEED Touring Car Championship for the third year in-a-row on the
strength of six top-five finishes including a pair of victories from pole at the Watkins Glen doubleheader, where he also reset the qualifying and race lap records. Nearly won both titles, but was
spun from the SPEED Touring Car lead in the finale with two laps to go. Coupled with his SPEED GT
victory, set a new Watkins Glen record of three professional race wins in a single weekend. Won
SPEED GT race at Toronto as well, one of seven top-five finishes, which propelled him to his second
SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship. Earned his second-consecutive SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship
in 2008, piloting the K-PAX/3R Racing Porsche 911 GT3. Started the season off with a win at Sebring
and would earned additional wins at Watkins Glen and Detroit. Finished the season with a total of
six podium appearances and only once finished outside the top five. Results helped Porsche earn its
seventh Manufacturers’ Title. Also competed in Grand-Am competition.
Year
1990
1991
1992
1996
1997
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
SP
SP
C
T2
T2
GT
GT
GT
GT
TC
GT
TC
GT
TC
GT
GT
WC
Starts
1
1
2
1
1
1
7
10
10
11
2
10
10
10
10
9
96
Wins
1
0
1
0
0
0
4
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
22
Top-5
1
0
2
0
1
1
7
8
6
6
1
7
7
6
8
5
66
1
0
2
0
1
1
7
3
8
1
7
4
10
2
2
9
2
9
1
7
2
10
1
8
6
82
1
119
The Drivers
Personal: Born on June 26, 1957. Writes a monthly column for SportsCar, SCCA’s magazine. Drives
a vegetable oil powered Volkswagen Jetta and an APR tuned Porsche 911 Turbo. Enjoys motorcycling and owns seven motorcycles. Diet is strictly raw and vegan foods. TV viewing is limited to
SPEED, The Weather Channel and CNN. First job involved staging driving events at colleges with
Dodge Daytona Turbos for the National Collegiate Driving Championships. Lists Peter Schwartzott,
Andy Pilgrim and Bill Auberlen as his racing heroes, as well as his step-daughter Kelly, who is a
professional drifter.
CHARLIE PUTMAN
CHAR-lee PUTT-mun
West Casper, Wyo.
Age: 58
2009: Made three starts in a Dodge Viper, earning two top-10 finishes.
Previously: Has competed in SCCA Regional and National events in Spec
Miata, Showroom Stock B, Touring 2 and Spec Racer Ford. Has also won
multiple times driving in Panoz events. Drove in three SPEED Touring Car
events in his 2005 rookie season. Notched three top-20 finishes, with his best
(15th) coming at Mid-Ohio. Was 18th in the other two races driving a Tindol
Motorsports Mazda Protégé. Completed his first full SPEED Touring Car season
in 2006 behind the wheel of a Tindol Motorsports Mazda6. Best finish was 14th at Miller Motorsports
Park and Mosport. Earned the first top-10 result of his career in the rain at Road Atlanta in 2007,
finishing seventh in a MAZDA6 for Tindol Motorsports. Added two more top-10 finishes to his SPEED
Touring Car career in 2008, finishing eighth at Watkins Glen and Mosport in a Tindol Motorsports
MAZDA6. Placed 10th in final points.
Personal: Born Sept. 6, 1951. Is married to Dianne. Drives a Ford Edge on the street. Likes
Mexican food and watching Grey’s Anatomy. First job was an oil field rigger. He is now an engineer.
Paul Newman is his racing hero and VIRginia International Raceway is his favorite track.
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
GT
WC
Starts
3
10
10
10
3
33
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
10
2
5
10
The Drivers
CHAD RAYNAL
CHAD RAY-nawl
San Jose, Calf.
Age: 38
2009: Drove a Cadillac CTS-V for his first World Challenge start at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca.
Previously: Has nine years of vintage racing experience with HMSA, General
Racing Ltd. and SCCA. Won the 2007 Historic IMSA GT class at both the
Monterey and Portland Historic Automobile Races driving a DeKon Monza. Has
accrued other numerous vintage wins and podiums.
Personal: Born August 9, 1971. Is married to Emily with two children: Senna and Ruth. Drives a
BMW 335i on the street. Current occupation is in sales but first job involved restoration of vintage
cars. Favorite food is a bean and cheese burrito. Enjoys the TV show Deadwood. Ayrton Senna and
Mark Donohue are his racing heroes and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is his favorite track.
Year
2009
Totals
120
Class
GT
WC
Starts
1
1
Wins
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
-
TONY RIVERA
TON-ee riv-AIR-uh
Houston, Texas
Age: 36
Career Highlights: 2008 IMSA Challenge GT3 Cup Gold Class Champion.
2009: Finished third in the GT Championship in his first season in World
Challenge. Won his debut race at Sebring in a Porsche 911 GT3, and won
again at Road America later in the season. Earned two more podiums and
seven top-five finishes.
Previous: Has competed in SCCA Club Racing and Solo events since 1989,
winning 12 SCCA Club Racing Divisional Championships. Won 2001 June Sprints in E Production and
broke the EP June Sprints qualifying record in 2003. Finished on the EP podium at the SCCA National
Championship Runoffs in 2001, 2004 and 2007. Finished third in the 2007 Star Mazda Championship
running the Expert Class. Finished 11th in the KONI Challenge ST Class year-end point standings,
runner-up in the Rookie of the Year Standings. Won 12 of 14 races in the IMSA Challenge GT3 Cup
Gold Class, breaking Tommy Kendall’s professional consecutive win streak record (11) and taking
the Championship.
Personal: Born September 14, 1973. Is married to Annemarie with one daughter: Kylee. Drives a
Mazda Miata on the street. Enjoys the TV show Pinks and hamburgers. Road Atlanta is his favorite
track. Lists Jack Baldwin, Peter Cunningham, Tommy Kendall, Pete Halsmer and Jeff Gordon as his
driving heroes.
Year
2009
Totals
Class
GT
WC
Starts
10
10
Wins
2
2
Top-5
7
7
9
3
9
3
Previously: Made three starts in World Challenge GT in 2008. Named the
2007 Viper Racing League Rookie of the Year.
Personal: Born February 2, 1968. Names World Challenge competitor Ron
Fellows as a racing hero. His favorite track is Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Year
2008
Total
Class
GT
WC
Starts
3
3
Wins
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
-
121
The Drivers
FRED ROBERTS
Fred RAH-burts
Toronto, Ontario
Age: 42
JASON SAINI
JAY-sun SAN-ee
Fort Worth, Texas
Age: 37
Career Highlights: 2008 SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the Year. 2007 SCCA
Pro Racing SIRIUS Satellite Radio Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion.
2009: Finished second in the Touring Car Championship in a Mazda6 after
leading entering the season finale. Won at New Jersey Motorsports Park,
Autobahn, and Mid-Ohio. Also was the fastest qualifier at Autobahn. Earned
five podium finishes and 10 top-tens in 10 races.
Previously: Started competing in SCCA National Solo events in 2000. Was 2003 B-Stock National
Champion, 2003 ProSolo Champion and 2004 A-Stock National Champion. Began road racing in
2004, finishing seventh in the 2005 Miata Cup Championship. Finished fifth in the Miata Cup in
2005 and earned his first professional pole position at Mosport. Finished second in the inaugural
season of SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup, collecting three podium finishes and his first pro win
at Road America in 2006. Won five of eight MX-5 Cup races in 2007 to claim the Championship.
Was awarded ride with Tri-Point motorsports courtesy of MAZDASPEED and its driver development
program. Earned the 2007 SPEED Touring Car Rookie of the year by finishing fifth in the Drivers’
Championship. Took his first World Challenge victory from pole at Miller Motorsports Park. Collected
three more top-five finishes in a Tri-Point Motorsports MAZDA6.
Personal: Born January 12, 1973. Likes Mexican and Italian food. Favorite thing to watch on TV is
World Challenge. Road America is his favorite track and Boris Said is his racing hero.
Year
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
WC
Starts
10
10
20
Wins
1
3
4
Top-5
4
7
11
7
5
10
2
17
2
The Drivers
GARY SAVAGE
GAIR-ee SA-vij
Sarasota, Fla.
Age: 40
Previously: Began racing as a hobby in the early 1990s before turning his
attention to a professional career. Has raced successfully in Solo and hill climb
competitions, and works as a high performance driving instructor.
Personal: Born December 18, 1969. Married to Robin. Has been featured on
SPEED’s American Muscle Car.
JOEY SCARALLO
JO-ee scu-RELL-o
Hauppauge, N.Y.
Age: 31
2009: Earned two top-10 finishes in three starts in a Pontiac GTO.
Previously: Started racing career with F2000 in 1996. Tried Formula Atlantic
in 2000. Raced Trans-Am from 2001 - 2005. In 2007, raced Indy Lights. In
2008, he drove a Pontiac GTO in nine events, recording a best finish of seventh at Watkins Glen.
122
Personal: Born November 29, 1978. First job was working in a warehouse. Drives a Pontiac GTO on
the street. Favorite food is chicken parmesan and favorite TV show is Two and a Half Men. Mosport
is his favorite track and Emerson Fittipaldi is his racing hero.
Year
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
WC
Starts
9
3
12
Wins
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
1
2
3
-
JAMES SOFRONAS
JAYMS suh-FRO-nus
Newport Beach, Calif.
Age: 41
2009: Had his most successful season in World Challenge, finishing 2nd in the
GT Championship and earning his second and third career wins (Long Beach
and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca). Was also on the podium at Watkins Glen
and Mid-Ohio and was the fastest qualifier at Autobahn.
Personal: Born Sept. 9, 1968 in Pound Ridge, N.Y. Married to Nargis and the couple have a daughter. Graduate of Babson College with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. Is the Owner
and President of Global Motorsports Group, specializing in Porsche motorsports and performance
parts. Drives a Porsche 997 TT and Audi S6 on the street. Chicken is his favorite food. Sportscar
racing on SPEED is his TV programming of choice. Lists Hans Stuck as his racing hero and Road
America as his favorite track.
Year
1994
1995
1996
Class
SP
SP
T1
Starts
1
6
1
Wins
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
1
1
1
123
The Drivers
Previously: Began racing Showroom Stock B in 1994 and made his World
Challenge debut at Road America, finishing ninth in Super Production. Made
five starts in 1995, finishing in the top-10 twice. In 1996, made three starts
in T2 and one in T1, resulting in two top-10s and a front-row start at Lime Rock. In 1999, made
one SPEED Touring Car start, finishing sixth at Laguna Seca. Won several BMW Club Races. In
2000, made two SPEED GT starts and two Speedvision Touring Car starts, recording a best finish
of 15th in Touring Car at Road Atlanta. All starts were in BMWs. Ran eight SPEED GT races in a
BMW M3 with a season-best finish of ninth at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Finished 14th overall
in points. 2001 USTCC Champion in a BMW 328i with five wins out of seven races. In 2002, ran in
five SPEED Touring Car races driving a BMW 325is. Recorded one top-10 finish at Mosport (second
race) in sixth place. Started on the front row at Road America. Recorded one top-10 finish in nine
SPEEDTouring Car starts in 2003. In 2004, ran the full 10-event SPEED Touring Car slate, recording four top-five and nine top-10 finishes in a BMW 325Ci. Finished fourth in the Driver’s point
championship standings. Led the majority of the event at Mosport before finishing fourth. In 2005
raced in SPEED GT for the first time since 2001, piloted a Porsche 911 Cup to a pair of top-five
finishes and three top-10s. Best qualifier came at Lime Rock, where he started fourth and finished
third. At Laguna, started eighth on the grid before winding up fifth. Finished ninth in the 2006
SPEED GT Driver’s Championship behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3. Recorded three top-five
finishes and five top-10 finishes. In 2007, continued SPEED GT racing in his Global Motorsports
Group Porsche 911 GT3, collecting five top-10 finishes. Best result was a fifth at Sebring. Entered all
but the final round of the SPEED Touring Car Championship in a Tecmark/GMG BMW 325Ci. Earned
three top-five finishes, including runner-up finishes at Lime Rock Park and the second half of the
Watkins Glen doubleheader. Finished seventh in the final points, making him the SPEED Touring Car
2007 Toyo Cup winner, awarded to the highest placing driver in the Championship whose primary
occupation is not racing. Finished 2008 in fourth in the SPEED GT Drivers’ Championship, finishing
nine of 10 rounds in the top 10 driving a Global Motorsports Group Porsche 911 GT3. Earned first
World Challenge victory in 99th start at New Jersey Motorsports Park, which helped Porsche clinch
its seventh Manufacturers’ Championship. Entered three SPEED Touring Car events with a Tecmark
BMW 325Ci, earning a top-10 finish at each.
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2006
2007
2007
2008
2008
2009
Totals
T2
T2
T2
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
TC
GT
GT
TC
GT
WC
3
2
1
1
2
2
8
5
9
10
6
10
1
9
10
10
3
10
110
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
4
0
3
1
3
1
6
24
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
9
3
6
0
7
5
9
3
9
59
4
8
7
4
2
2
ROBERT STOUT
RAH-burt Stout
Brownsburg, Ind.
Age: 18
Previously: Began racing karts in 2006, finishing fifth in the series at New
Castle Motorsports Park in a field that included young stand-outs Conor Daly
and Joseph Newgarden. Competed in Stars of Karting in 2007, and also began
racing sports cars. Won a number of club races in 2009.
Personal: Born March 2, 1992. Names Miller Motorsports Park as his favorite
track, and Alex Zanardi as his racing hero. Robert enjoys pizza, and names
Nitro Circus as his favorite television program.
The Drivers
SETH THOMAS
SETH TOM-us
Cumming, Ga.
Age: 32
2009: Finished a career-best fourth in the Touring Car championship. Earned
his first three World Challenge wins, at Sebring, Watkins Glen, and Road
Atlanta. Was also the fastest qualifier at Watkins Glen.
Previously: Graduated from the Skip Barber Racing School. In 2001, raced
ITB BMW in Southeast Endurance Series. In 2002, ran a Dodge Neon in SSC
and won ARRC Enduro. In 2003, won SARRC ITS Championship; won the
ARRC ITS Championship; and drove a BMW to a third place finish in Pro IT
Series ITS class. In 2004, put together solid rookie season in nine Touring Car events, highlighted
by first top-five finish of career at Road Atlanta. Also ran the event’s fastest lap in a BMW 325i.
Finished third in Rookie of the Year point standings. Broke into the top 10 in the 2005 Touring Car
Drivers’ Championship in only second year of competition, using eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts.
Tied career-high finish with a fourth at Cleveland. Took home three top-ten finishes in 2006. Best
finish came at Sebring where he finished sixth. In 2007 scored three top-10 finishes and earned his
highest qualifying position at his home track, Road Atlanta, where he started second and led the
most laps. Best finish of the year was fifth at Miller Motorsports Park. Finished 2008 in the top 10
seven times with a career-high finish of second at VIR.
Personal: Born Oct. 3, 1976. Garage is stocked with a Dodge SRT 8 Grand Cherokee, Porsche 911
GT3 and BMW M3 Lightweight. Enjoys mountain biking. Is married to Resa and has a daughter.
124
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
9
11
10
10
10
10
60
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
Top-5
1
1
0
1
2
5
10
1
8
9
3
3
7
7
8
4
30
4
TONY WEDDERBURN
TOE-nee WED-er-burn
Miami, Fla
Age: 49
Previously: Has raced SCCA Club Racing for 17 years. Began racing in ITC in
1993. Earned the 2000 Florida Region Driver of the Year. Earned the Sunoco
Hard Charger Award in Touring 3 at the 2009 SCCA National Championship
Runoffs.
Personal: Born August 5, 1960. Attended the University of Miami. Has been
married to Chantal for over 30 years, and has five children – Andre, Marcel,
Ilianne, Gabrielle and Byron. Names The Sopranos as his favorite television
program, and Jackie Stewart as his racing hero.
SONNY WHELEN
SUN-ee WEEL-in
Old Saybrook, Conn.
Age: 56
Career Highlights: 2005 SPEED GT Rookie of the Year.
2009: Earned six top-ten finishes in a Chevrolet Corvette on his way to a
career-best eighth-place championship appearance.
Personal: Born June 2, 1953. Lists chicken marsala as favorite meal. Listens to Rock and Blues.
Says Mark Donohue and Paul Newman are his racing heroes and Road America is his favorite track.
Family includes wife, KC, and sons George and James.
Year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
GT
WC
Starts
3
11
10
9
10
10
53
Wins
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Top-5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
1
1
3
0
6
8
11
8
125
The Drivers
Previously: First race came at Willow Springs (Calif.) in 2002 in the Viper
Racing League, where he earned an eighth-place finish in a Dodge Viper GT-5.
Also ran in the Panoz GT series while running VRL. Was named VRL Rookie of
the Year in 2002. Won VRL GT-1 championship in 2003 and 2004. Has also competed in NASCAR
Busch North competition. In 2004, ran in three SPEED GT events during rookie season. Highest
finish was 14th at Lime Rock Park after a career-best qualifier (14th). In 2005 won the SPPED GT
Rookie of the Year after running in 11 events and earning the first top-10 of his career (ninth at
Mosport). Finished 12th overall in the GT Drivers’ Championship. Started 2006 season strong with a
career-high seventh place finish at Sebring in his Chevrolet Corvette C6. Finished the year with four
top-15 finishes. In 2007, scored three top-10 finishes in Chevrolet Corvette and tied his career-best
finish of seventh at Watkins Glen. Driving a Whelen Engineering Chevrolet Corvette in 2008, finished
in the top 15 at Long Beach, Watkins Glen, Mosport, Detroit and New Jersey Motorsports Park.
KUNO WITTMER
KOO-no WIT-mer
Quebec, Canada
Age: 26
2009: Finished sixth in Touring Car driving an Acura TSX. Earned his fourth
World Challenge win at Mosport. Grabbed eight top-10 finishes.
Previous: Seven years racing experience in both open-wheel and sportscars,
earning two Canadian championships, 14 victories, 32 podiums and 68 top
tens. 2005 Canada Honda/Michelin Challenge Champion. Started in eight
rounds of 2006 SPEED Touring Car season in a Mercedes C230, collecting
three top-10 finishes. Best finish was ninth at Grand Prix of Denver. Driving
Acura RSX in 2007 with RealTime racing, scored six top-five finishes and earned his career-first
pole at the Grand Prix of Toronto. Earned first podium in series finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca where he finished second. Ended the year third in the Drivers’ Championship. Never finished
outside the top 10 in 2008, driving a RealTime Acura TSX. Made five podium appearances, including his first World Challenge win at VIR, followed by wins at Lime Rock Park and Mid-Ohio. Nearly
won the 2008 Drivers’ Championship on the final lap at Road Atlanta, but could not complete pass
on team owner Cunningham.
Personal: Born Sept. 6, 1982. Drives a Honda Accord Coupe on the street. Enjoys Italian, French,
American and Japanese food. Favorite TV shows are Family Guy and Seinfeld. First job was detailing cars. Lists Montreal, Mt. Tremblant and Mosport as his favorite tracks. Nigel Mansel, Michael
Schumacher and Ayrton Senna are his racing heroes.
Year
2006
2007
2008
2009
Totals
Class
TC
TC
TC
TC
WC
Starts
8
10
10
10
38
Wins
0
0
3
1
4
Top-5
0
6
8
3
17
3
9
3
10
3
8
6
30
3
The Drivers
WILLIAM ZIEGLER
WIL-yum ZEEG-lur
Ponte Verda Beach, Fla.
Age: 54
Career Highlights: 2009 World Challenge GT Rookie of the Year
2009: Finished 10th in the World Challenge GT Championship, earning Rookie
of the Year. Recorded two top-10 finishes with a season best finish of eighth
at Sebring.
Previously: After getting started with the BMW Car Club of America in 1998,
began SCCA Club Racing in 2000. Was the 2007 June Sprints Touring 2 winner
and 2007 SCCA Runoffs silver medalist in T2. Set fastest lap of the T2 2008 National Championship
race in 2008.
Personal: Born May 17, 1955. Drives a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 on the street. Is married to
Jackie. First job was painting houses. Enjoys kobe beef and the TV show 24. Favorite track is Lime
Rock Park. Tom Kristensen and Hans Stuck are his racing heroes.
Year
2009
Totals
126
Class
GT
WC
Starts
10
10
Wins
0
0
Top-5
0
0
2
10
2
10
Notes
127
Notes
128
ASTON MARTIN DB9
Class: GT
Year Models Eligible: 2004 - 2009
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear transaxle, rear wheel
drive, two door coupe
Engine Layout: V-12, aluminum block and heads
Displacement: 5935cc (362 ci)
Valves: 48
Compression: 10.3:1
Induction: Naturally Aspirated
Maximum Boost: N/A
Maximum Engine Speed: 7000 rpm
Horsepower: 520 bhp
Torque: 470 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 107.9”
Base Weight (pre-season): 3200 lbs
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 13x18”
Tire Size (F/R): 275/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Differential:Limited slip
Weight Dist. Limit: (f/r): 50/50
Restrictor: 20 percent
Other modifications: Vanquish S heads, manifolds and cams - Composite hood, front fenders, doors hatch and fascias - engine moved 10” rearward and 1.5” downward.
History: Scored first-ever pole in 2008 at Road Atlanta.
The Cars
Poles (Most Recent): 1 (Road Atlanta, 2008)
Best result: 2 (Road Atlanta, 2008)
130
CADILLAC CTS-V
Class: GT
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, four door sedan
Valves: 16
Compression: 12.0:1
Induction: Naturally aspirated
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 520 bhp
Torque: 465 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 113.4”
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 13x18”
Tire Size (F/R): 275/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Differential: Limited Slip
Weight Dist. Limit: 50/50
Other modifications: 0.5 mm (.020 in) overbore permitted. Alternate approved camshaft,
crankshaft and heads permitted through GM Motorsports. Approved alternate body panels,
hood and doors permitted. Transmission tunnel alterations permitted to accommodate ride
height. Engine may be moved eight inches rearward from V-6 location and 1.5 inches downward.
History: In 2005, just its second year, Cadillac swept both the Manufacturers’ Championship
Presented by RACER Magazine and the Drivers’ Championship with Andy Pilgrim. It followed
that performance with a second Manufacturers title in 2007.
Poles (Most Recent): 10 (Mosport, 2007)
Wins (Most Recent): 12 (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2007)
The Cars
131
CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6
Class: GT
Year Models Eligible: 2005 Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe
Valves: 16
Compression: 12.0:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 520 bhp
Torque: 465 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 105.7”
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 13x18”
Tire Size (F/R): 275/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Restrictor: 30 percent w/ close ratio H-pattern, 35 percent with aftermarket sequential
Other modifications: 0.5 mm (0.020 in) overbore permitted. Alternate approved camshaft,
crankshaft and heads permitted through GM Motorsports. Alternate suspension pieces permitted providing they are same dimensions as stock. Alternate approved bodywork permitted. Sequential transmission permitted.
History:The C6 replaced the successful C5 in 2005, and has earned many podium finishes
since that time.
The Cars
Poles (Most Recent): 4 (Mosport, 2008)
Wins (Most Recent): 5 (Mosport, 2008)
132
DODGE VIPER (COMPETITION COUPE)
Class: GT
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe
Displacement: 8284 cc (506 ci)
Valves: 20
Compression: 10.0:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 525 bhp
Torque: 565 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 99.0”
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 13x18”
Tire Size (F/R): 305/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Unless specifically stated in the SCCA Pro Racing VTS, cars must
remain as delivered from Dodge Motorsports. Engine uses stock internals. Also uses stock
intake manifold. Aftermarket headers are permitted.
History: In 2006, four of the top ten drivers in the Drivers’ Championship drove Dodge
Vipers, more than any other car. A Viper has won at least one race each year since its 2003
introduction with the Competition Coupe.
Poles (Most Recent): 6 (Road America, 2008)
Wins (Most Recent): 10 (Mosport, 2009)
The Cars
133
FORD MUSTANG
Class: GT
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear transaxle, rear wheel
drive, two door coupe
Engine Layout: V-8, Aluminum block and heads
Valves: 32
Compression: 12.0:1
Maximum Boost: N/A
Horsepower: 500 bhp
Torque: 470 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 107.1”
Base Weight (pre-season): TBD
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 13x18”
Tire Size (F-R): 275/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Composite hood, front fenders, doors, hatch and fascias. Engine may
be moved back 8” and down 1.5”. Custom intake manifold permitted. Rear transaxle may
be used instead of standard gearbox bolted to engine.
History: The Ford Mustang has had a long history in the World Challenge, evolving through
the years. There have been many variations over the years, and statistics also include performance packages. The current cars were introduced by ACS Express Racing in 2008, winning the Drivers’ Championship in 2009.
The Cars
Poles (Most Recent): 6 (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2009)
Wins (Most Recent): 3 (Mid-Ohio, 2009)
134
MERCEDES-BENZ SLR 722 McLAREN
Class: GT
Year Models Eligible: 2009
Valves: 24
Compression: 8.8:1
Induction: Supercharged
Maximum Boost: 500 mbar (7.3 psi)
Horsepower: 550 bhp
Torque: 550 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: TBD
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 12x18”
Tire Size (F-R): 275/35/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Alternate control arms permitted.
The Cars
135
NISSAN GT-R
Class: GT
Year Models Eligible: 2009-2010
Vehicle Type: Front engine, all wheel drive, two door coupe
Valves: 24
Compression: 9.0:1
Induction: Turbocharged
Maximum Boost: 1200 mbar (17 psi)
Horsepower: 550 hp
Torque: TBD
Wheelbase: TBD
Wheel Size (F-R): 12x18” - 12x18”
Tire Size (F-R): 335/30/18” - 335/30/18”
Forward Gears: 6
The Cars
Other modifications: TBD
136
PORSCHE 911 GT3 CUP (997)
Class: GT
Vehicle Type: Rear engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe
Engine Layout: Flat 6, aluminum block and heads
Displacement: 3795 cc (231.5 ci)
Valves: 24
Compression: 13.7:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 500 bhp
Torque: 303 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 92.5”
Base Weight (pre-season): 2920
Wheel Size (F-R)(max.): 10.5x18” - 12x18”
Tire Size (F-R): 265/35/18” - 305/35/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Differential: Type: Limited Slip
Restrictor: 35%
Other modifications: Porsche Motorsport North America engine upgrade permitted. Alternate
PMNA intake manifold permitted. Approved alternate body panels permitted. Cars must use specified Porsche muffler to meet sound limit. Cars utilizing stock GT-3 Cup car engine may reduce
weight by 100lbs. Cars utilizing IMSA GT-3 Cup body work and suspension may reduce weight by
100 lbs.
History: Car that carried Randy Pobst to 2007 and 2008 SPEED GT Drivers’ Championships and
Porsche to the 2008 and 2009 GT Manufacturers’ Championships.
Poles (Most Recent): 10 (Road America, 2009)
The Cars
137
VOLVO S60
Class: GT
Years Eligible: 2004 - 2009
Vehicle Type: Front engine, all wheel-drive, four door sedan
Engine Layout: Inline 5, aluminum block and head
Valves: 20
Compression: 9.2:1
Horsepower: 500 bhp
Torque: 450 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 101.3”
Wheel Size (F-R): 11x18” - 11x18”
Tire Size (F/R): 305/35/18” - 305/35/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Differential: Type: 3 limited slip differentials
Other modifications: Approved alternate sub-frames pick-up point locations and suspension
pieces may be used. Approved alternate material body panels permitted. Alternate engine
internals, turbo and manifolds are used. An Xtrac H-pattern dog ring gearbox is used.
History: Initially campaigned in 2005 and 2006 by At-Speed Motorsports, scoring a win with
Michael Galati in 2006, the S60 returned with K-Pax Racing in 2009, recording three wins
and three poles.
The Cars
Wins (Most Recent): 4 (Road Atlanta, 2009)
138
ACURA RSX TYPE S
Class: GTS
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, two door
coupe
Valves: 16
Compression: 12.5:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Power (Projected): 300 hp
Torque (Projected): 200 lb-ft
Wheelbase: 101.2”
Base Weight (pre-season): TBD
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Tire Size: 235/40/17
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: The RSX uses the same 2.4 liter engine package as the TSX.
Alternate front and rear control arms are allowed, along with adjustable rear upper control
links. Car may also compete in 2010 Touring Car Championship without modifications.
History: Made its Touring Car debut in 2002, not running a full season until 2003, replacing
the ultra-successful Integra model.
The Cars
139
ACURA TSX
Class: GTS
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, four door
sedan
Valves: 16
Compression: 12.5:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 300 bhp
Torque: 200 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 102.8”
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Forward Gears: 6
Restrictor: 0%
Other modifications: Xtrac sequential transmission may be used. Alternate front control
arms are permitted. Adjustable rear upper control links are also permitted.
History: Introduced to Touring Car competition in 2004 and made a successful debut with
multiple victories. Followed up that successs with a sweep of the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’
Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009. The 2009-bodied car was introduced in 2009,
winning the Drivers’ Championship as well.
The Cars
140
BMW 328i (E90)
Class: GTS
Years Eligible: 2006 Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, two or four door sedan
Engine Layout: Inline 6, aluminum/magnesium block, aluminum head.
Valves: 24
Compression: 11:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower (Estimated): 300 bhp
Torque (Estimated): 245 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 106.3”
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Forward Gears: 5
Differential: Limited Slip.
Other modifications: Suspension arms and links may be replaced with alternate, adjustable links. The 330i 3.0 liter engine may also be used, with substantially fewer modifications
and similar power output to the 2.5 liter engine. The 3.0-liter car would run in Touring Car.
History: Introduced in 2008 by Bimmerworld Racing, the car has won in both seasons of
competition in Touring Car (2008-2009).
Wins (Most Recent): 4 (Road Atlanta, 2009)
The Cars
141
CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z51
Class: GTS
Valves: 24
Compression: 10.9:1
Maximum Boost: Not Applicable
Horsepower: 450 hp
Torque: 450 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 105.7 in
Wheel Size (F-R): 10x18” - 11x18”
Tire Size (F-R): 295/30/18” - 305/35/18”
Forward Gears: 6
The Cars
Other modifications: 4 piston front calipers permitted. Car is prepared to the same level as
SCCA Club Racing Touring 1 rules.
142
FERRARI F430
Class: GTS
Year Models Eligible: All
Vehicle Type: Mid engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe
Valves: 32
Compression: TBD
Horsepower: 480 hp
Torque: 340 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 102.4 in
Wheel Size (F-R): 8x19” – 10.5x19”
Tire Size (F-R): TBD - TBD
Forward Gears: 6
Weight Dist. Limit: TBD
Other modifications: None.
The Cars
143
LOTUS EXIGE S
Class: GTS
Vehicle Type: Mid engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe
Valves: 16
Compression: 11.5:1
Horsepower (Estimated): 260 hp
Torque (Estimated): 180 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 90.6 in
Wheel Size (F-R)(max.): 7.5x16” – 8.5x17”
Tire Size (F/R): 205/55/16” – 235/40/17”
Forward Gears: 6
Weight Dist. Limit: TBD
The Cars
Other modifications: Lotus Motorsports Cup 255 roof, intercooler, header and brakes permitted.
144
MAZDA3
Class: GTS
Year Models Eligible: 2010
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, four door sedan
Engine Layout: Inline 4, Aluminum block and heads
Valves: 16
Compression: 12.0:1
Horsepower: 275 hp
Torque: 180 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 103.9 in
Wheel Size (F-R): 8x17” - 8x17”
Tire Size (F-R): 235/40/18” - 235/40/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Sequential transmission. Exhaust porting allowed.
History: Made its debut in the final race of 2009 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Best Qualifying: 11th (Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2009)
Best Finish: 12th (Mazdda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2009)
The Cars
145
MAZDA6
Class: GTS
Valves: 16
Compression: 12:1
Induction: Naturally aspirated.
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Horsepower: 300 bhp
Torque: 200 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 105.3”
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Xtrac sequential transmission is permitted. Alternate control arms
are permitted.
History: Made its debut at Infineon Raceway in 2004 with Tri-Point Racing and Jeff
Altenburg. Earned 2007 Touring Car Manufacturers’ Championship and carried Jeff Altenburg
to 2007 Touring Car Drivers’ Championship.
The Cars
Poles (Most Recent): 21 (Mid-Ohio, 2009
Wins (Most Recent): 19 (Mid-Ohio, 2009)
146
CHEVROLET COBALT SS
Class: Touring Car
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, four door
sedan.
Engine Layout: Inline 4, Aluminum block and heads.
Valves: 16
Compression: 9.5:1
Induction: Supercharged or Turbocharged
Maximum Engine Speed: 7500 (supercharged) or 6700 (turbocharged)
Horsepower: 250 hp
Torque: 200 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 102.8 in
Base Weight (pre-season): 2800 lbs (supercharged) or 3000 lbs (turbocharged)
Tire Size (F-R): 235/40/18” - 235/40/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: GM Stage 2 Performance Kit permitted for supercharged engine.
The Cars
147
DODGE SRT-4
Class: Touring Car
Years Eligible: 2004-2006
Engine Layout: Inline 4, Iron block and aluminum head
Displacement: 2458cc (150ci)
Valves: 16
Compression: 8.8:1
Horsepower (Estimated): 275 bhp
Torque (Estimated): 225 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 105”
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Forward Gears: 5
Other modifications: Alternate control arms and suspension brackets are permitted.
History: Became eligible in 2005 and ran first full season.
The Cars
Best Qualifying: 5 (Road America, 2006)
Best Result: 3 (Road America, 2006)
148
HONDA CIVIC SI
Class: Touring Car
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, two door hatchback
Engine Layout: Inline 4, Aluminum block and heads
Valves: 16
Compression: 11.0:1
Maximum Boost: N/A
Horsepower: 250 bhp
Torque: 200 lb-ft.
Wheelbase: 101.4 “
Tire Size (F-R): 235/40/17” - 235/40/17”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: None
The Cars
149
Lexus IS300
Class: Touring Car
Years Eligible: 2001-2005
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, two door coupe.
Engine Layout: Inline 6, iron block with aluminum head.
Displacement: 3067 cc (187ci)
Valves: 24
Compression: 12.5:1
Maximum Boost: N.A.
Maximum Engine Speed: 7300
Horsepower (Estimated): 230 hp
Torque (Estimated): 210 ft lbs
Wheelbase: 105”
Wheel Size: 8x17”
Forward Gears: 5
Differential Type: Limited Slip
Best Qualifying: 6 (Mosport, 2006)
Best Finish: 12 (Mosport, 2007)
History: Campaigned in several different iterations. The Touring-Car eligible vehicle is a
more limited preparation car than has previously competed in World Challenge.
The Cars
Best Qualifying: 6 (Mosport, 2006)
Best Results: 10 (New Jersey, 2009)
150
MAZDA RX-8
Class: Touring Car
Vehicle Type: Front engine, rear wheel drive, four door coupe
Engine Layout: 2 Rotor Wankel
Displacement: 1308cc (79.8 ci)
Valves: 0
Compression: 10.0:1
Horsepower: 250 hp
Torque: 150 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: 106.4 in
Tire Size (F-R): 235/40/18” - 235/40/18”
Forward Gears: 6
Other modifications: Racing exhaust header, clutch and flywheel permitted. MAZDASPEED
body panels permitted.
The Cars
151
SCION tC
Class: Touring Car
Vehicle Type: Front engine, front wheel drive, two door coupe
Engine Layout: Inline 4, Aluminum block and head
Valves: 16
Compression: 9.8:1
Horsepower: 250 hp
Torque: 200 ft-lbs
Wheelbase: TBD
Tire Size (F-R): 235/40/18” - 235/40/18”
Forward Gears: 5
The Cars
Other modifications: TRD Supercharger permitted. Racing exhaust header permitted.
152
The Records
Career Performance Charts
Starts (26+ Races):
1
Peter Cunningham
2
Michael Galati
3
Pierre Kleinubing
4
James Sofronas
5
Lou Gigliotti
6
Taz Harvey
7
Randy Pobst
8
Charles Espenlaub
9
Andy Pilgrim
10 Jeff Altenburg
11 Eric Curran
12 David Rosenblum
13 Tony Gaples
14 James Clay
Nick Esayian
16 Fred Meyer
17 Mike Fitzgerald
18 Bill Cooper
19 Seth Thomas
Will Turner
21 Tommy Archer
Chuck Hemmingson
Boris Said
24 Dino Crescentini
Chip Herr
26 Brandon Davis
27 Phil McClure
28 Michael McCann
Sonny Whelen
30 John Heinricy
31 Shauna Marinus
Walter Swick
33 Paul Brown
34 Terry Borcheller
Jim Osborn
36 David Farmer
Dave Jolly
38 Alain Chebeir
Alfred DuPont
Kermit Upton
Tim Wiens
42 Bobby Archer
Derek Bell
John Bourassa
Neil Hannemann
46 Fred Pignataro
47 Justin Marks
48 Jeff Courtney
49 Bill Auberlen
Hugh Plumb
Kuno Wittmer
52 Ken Dobson
Ron Emmick
Jeff McMillin
Hugh Stewart
Johannes Van Overbeek
57 Albert Mirko
Jon Prall
154
183
149
130
110
108
101
96
90
84
77
76
70
68
65
64
62
61
60
58
57
56
54
53
51
49
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
36
61
64
68
70
74
78
83
85
87
93
Charlie Putman
Thomas Safar II
Chris Neville
35
Phil Parlato
Robert Stretch
Willy Lewis
34
Manny Matz
Peter Schwartzott
Michael Sturm
Roger Foo
33
Matt Richmond
Norris Rancourt
32
Neal Sapp
R.K. Smith
Bob Woodhouse
Rob Fellows
31
Robert “Rob” Foster
Grant Lockwood
Scotty B. White
Leo Capaldi
30
Stuart Hayner
Bob Miller
Leigton Reese
Kevin Shrantz
Scott Bradley
29
Ritch Marziale
Mike Davis
28
Jim Minneker
Paul Booher
27
Doc Bundy
Reese Cox
Mark Dixon
Walter Markes
David Schardt
Jimmy Adams
26
Steve Lisa
Career Wins:
1
Peter Cunningham
2
Pierre Kleinubing
3
Michael Galati
4
Lou Gigliotti
Randy Pobst
6
Bill Auberlen
7
Tommy Archer
Neil Hannemann
R.K. Smith
10 Terry Borcheller
Andy Pilgrim
12 Bobby Archer
Ron Emmick
Dave Jolly
Kermit Upton
16 Bill Cooper
Eric Curran
David Murry
19 Paul Booher
Mike Fitzgerald
Chip Herr
32
29
23
22
14
10
9
8
7
6
Willy Lewis
Elliott Forbes-Robinson
John Heinricy
Peter Kitchak
Norris Rancourt
Neal Sapp
Bill Saunders
Jeff Altenburg
Doc Bundy
Price Cobb
Brandon Davis
Chuck Hemminson
Wolf Henzler
Hugh Plumb
Jason Saini
Peter Schwartzott
Lance Stewart
Kuno Wittmer
Mitch Wright
Max Angelelli
Almo Coppelli
Ron Fellows
Shawn Hendricks
Shane Lewis
James Sofronas
Seth Thomas
Will Turner
Lawson Aschenbach
Kim Baker
Maruo Baldi
Paul Bonaccorsi
Bobby Carradine
Alain Chebeir
Dino Crescentini
Jim Dentici
Charles Downes
Rob Fellows
Stuart Hayner
Don Knowles
Scott Lagasse
Ron Lauzon
Phil McClure
Max Papis
Matt Plumb
Vic Rice
Tony Rivera
Boris Said
Richard Spenard
Greg Theiss
Olimpio Alencar, Jr.
John Angelone
Mark Behm
Jack Benedict
Tom Benua
Tommy Clark
James Clay
Jason Daskalos
Ken Dobson
Alfred DuPont
David Empringham
5
4
3
2
1
Bob Endicott
Charles Espenlaub
David Farmer
Roger Foo
Doug Goad
Bill Gray
John Green
Joey Hand
Peter Hanson
Taz Harvey
Brad Hoyt
Ricardo Imery
Niclas Jonsson
Marc Kirberg
Ray Kong
Paul Lambert
David Lapham
Bo Lemler
Robin Liddell
Michael McCann
Jim Minneker
Paul Mumford
Chris Neville
Adam Pecorari
John Petrick
Steve Pfeffer
Leighton Reese
Rob Rizzo
Don Salama
Steve Saleen
Kevin Schrantz
Kristian Skavnes
Martin Snow
Melanie Snow
Beaver Theodosakis
Joe Varde
Ken Wallace, Jr.
Scotty B. White
Chris Wiehle
Ken Wilden
John Young
Fastest Qualifier:
Pierre Kleinubing
1
2
Peter Cunningham
3
Lou Gigliotti
Randy Pobst
5
Michael Galati
6
Bill Auberlen
Bill Cooper
8
Terry Borcheller
9
Tommy Archer
10 Ron Emmick
Dave Jolly
12 Price Cobb
13 Brandon Davis
Shawn Hendricks
Chip Herr
16 Bobby Archer
Doc Bundy
Mike Fitzgerald
36
32
26
23
13
10
9
8
The Records
23
29
41
50
74
7
6
5
155
The Records
24
36
43
58
156
Wolf Henzler
Shane Lewis
Norris Rancourt
Bill Saunders
R.K. Smith
Jeff Altenburg
Max Angelelli
Kim Baker
Paul Booher
Eric Curran
Charles Espenlaub
Peter Kitchak
Scott Lagasse
Andy Pilgrim
Leighton Reese
Kermit Upton
Jim Dentici
Ron Fellows
Elliot Forbes-Robinson
Neil Hannemann
Neal Sapp
Will Turner
Alfred DuPont
Rob Fellows
Eric Foss
Paul Lambert
Phil McClure
Hugh Plumb
Matt Plumb
Vic Rice
Rob Rizzo
Boris Said
Jason Saini
James Sofronas
Joe Varde
Kuno Wittmer
Makoto Yamamura
Lawson Aschenbach
Scott Bradley
Klaus Bytzek
Alain Chebeir
James Clay
Almo Coppelli
Dino Crescentini
Rick Dilorio
Ken Dobson
Taz Harvey
Stuart Hayner
John Heinricy
Chuck Hemmingson
Ricardo Imery
Davy Jones
Niclas Jonsson
Marc Kirberg
David Lapham
Dave Lemon
David Leslie
Shauna Marinus
Tommy Milner
Albert Mirko
4
3
2
1
Keith Mitchell
David Murry
Max Papis
Adam Pecorari
Doug Peterson
Peter Schwartzott
Martin Snow
Richard Spenard
Lance Stewart
Bob Stretch
Bob Thomas
Seth Thomas
Mark Wolocatiuk
Career Fastest Race Laps:
Pierre Kleinubing
1
Randy Pobst
3
Peter Cunningham
Michael Galati
5
Bill Auberlen
6
Terry Borcheller
7
Lou Gigliotti
8
Peter Kitchak
9
Mike Fitzgerald
Seth Thomas
Will Turner 12 John Heinricy
Andy Pilgrim
14 Doc Bundy
Price Cobb
Eric Curran
Alfred DuPont
Charles Espenlaub
Wolf Henzler
R.K. Smith
Kermit Upton III
22 Ken Dobson
Shawn Hendricks
Rob Rizzo
25 Max Angelelli
Kim Baker
Paul Booher
James Clay
Bill Cooper
Neil Hanneman
Chip Herr
Scott Lagasse
Willy Lewis
Phil McClure
David Murry
Tony Rivera
Martin Snow
Johannes van Overbeek
Chuck Hemmingson
40 Jeff Altenburg
Bobby Archer
Tommy Archer
Almo Coppelli
Brandon Davis
Ron Emmick
David Farmer
18
17
16
13
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
57
Ron Fellows
Nic Jonnson
Chris Neville
Hugh Plumb
Leighton Reese
Steve Saleen
Neal Sapp
Peter Schwarzott
Kristian Skavnes
Bob Stretch
Dennis Aase
Jimmy Adams
John Angelone
Andrew Aquilante
Mauro Baldi
George Biskup
Glenn Boros
Alain Chebeir
Jeff Courtney
Dino Crescentini
Jim Daniels
Charlie Downes
Bob Endicott
Rob Fellows
Roger Foo
Eric Foss
Joey Hand
Taz Harvey
Ron Johnson
Marc Kirberg
David Leslie
Shane Lewis
Robin Liddell
Jim Lovett
Terry McCarthy
Tommy Milner
Max Papis
Steve Pfeffer
Walter Puckett
Dick Read
Matt Richmond
Boris Said
Jason Saini
Bobby Sak
Victor Sifton
James Sofronas
Richard Spenard
Lance Stewart
Hans Stuck
Joe Varde
Kuno Wittmer
John Young
1
Bill Cooper
Tommy Archer
Terry Borcheller
Bobby Archer
Bill Auberlen
R.K. Smith
Jeff Altenburg
John Heinricy
Dave Jolly
Eric Curran
Taz Harvey
Willy Lewis
Ron Emmick
Norris Rancourt
Kermit Upton
Brandon Davis
Mike Fitzgerald
Hugh Plumb
Paul Booher
Boris Said
Neal Sapp
Shawn Hendricks
Lawson Aschenbach
Doc Bundy
Elliott Forbes-Robinson
Chuck Hemmingson
Chip Herr
James Sofronas
Will Turner
26
25
23
22
22
22
21
21
21
20
20
20
18
18
17
16
16
15
15
13
13
12
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
Top-Five Finishes (10+):
1
Peter Cunningham
120
Pierre Kleinubing
95
2
3
Michael Galati
84
4
Randy Pobst
66
5
Lou Gigliotti
57
6
Andy Pilgrim
51
7
Taz Harvey
47
8
Jeff Altenburg
35
Tommy Archer
10 Bill Cooper
34
11 Neil Hannemann
33
12 Eric Curran
31
Kermit Upton
14 Bill Auberlen
29
Dave Jolly
16 Terry Borcheller
28
17 Bobby Archer
27
R.K. Smith
19 John Heinricy
26
Boris Said
21 Mike Fitzgerald
25
Willy Lewis
Norris Rancourt
24 Chuck Hemmingson
24
James Sofronas
26 Brandon Davis
22
Ron Emmick
28 Hugh Plumb
21
The Records
Top-Three finishes: (10+):
1
Peter Cunningham
87
2
Pierre Kleinubing
76
Michael Galati
57
3
4
Randy Pobst
52
5
Lou Gigliotti
49
6
Neil Hannemann
30
7
Andy Pilgrim
30
8
9
10
11
14
17
20
22
23
25
27
29
30
31
157
The Records
30
33
36
38
39
41
43
48
55
Charles Espenlaub
Chip Herr
Jeff McMillin
Phil McClure
Jim Minneker
Will Turner
Paul Booher
Kuno Wittmer
Shawn Hendricks
Doc Bundy
Peter Schwartzott
Paul Armstrong
Mitch Wright
Lawson Aschenbach
Alfred DuPont
Elliot Forbes-Robinson
Chris Neville
Neal Sapp
Max Angelelli
Ken Dobson Justin Marks
Michael McCann
Walter Puckett
Jason Saini
David Schardt
Bobby Carradine
Alain Chebeir
James Clay
Steve Dinan
Peter Kitchak
David Murry
Jochen Rohr
Seth Thomas
20
18
17
15
14
13
12
11
10
Top-10 Finishes (15+):
1
Peter Cunningham
154
Pierre Kleinubing
108
2
Michael Galati
107
3
Randy Pobst
82
4
5
Andy Pilgrim
75
6
Lou Gigliotti
74
7
Taz Harvey
70
8
James Sofronas
59
9
Jeff Altenburg
51
10 Tommy Archer
49
11 Eric Curran
47
12 Will Turner
44
13 Bill Cooper
43
14 Mike Fitzgerald
42
15 Charles Espenlaub
41
John Heinricy
17 Chuck Hemmingson
40
Kermit Upton
19 Brandon Davis
38
20 Bill Auberlen
36
Nei Hannemann
Dave Jolly
23 Bobby Archer
35
Terry Borcheller
Boris Said
26 Chris Neville
32
158
27
31
35
38
41
43
44
45
48
49
51
55
58
64
67
73
76
Dino Crescentini
Phil McClure
Hugh Plumb
R.K. Smith
Willy Lewis
Seth Thomas
Kuno Wittmer
Chip Herr
Michael McCann
Jeff McMillin
Ron Emmick
Norris Rancourt
David Rosenblum
Alain Chebeir
Justin Marks
James Clay
Jim Minneker
Doc Bundy
Nick Esayian
Tony Gaples
Ken Dobson
David Farmer
John Schneider
Lawson Aschenbach
Paul Booher
Alfred DuPont
Shauna Marinus
Paul Brown
Michael Sturm
Tim Wiens
Paul Armstrong
Jeff Courtney
Rob Fellows
Shawn Hendricks
Neal Sapp
Peter Schwartzott
Leighton Reese
Thomas Safar II
Steve Saleen
Derek Bell
Reese Cox
Steve Dinan
Justin Jackson
Jason Saini
Mitch Wright
Albert Mirko
David Schardt
Kevin Schrantz
Jimmy Adams
Niclas Jonsson
Peter Kitchak
Matt Plumb
Walter Puckett
Robert Stretch
Peter Kitchak
Matt Plumb
Walter Puckett
Robert Stretch
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
Career Driver Records
Most Races
183, Peter Cunningham
Driver Class Victories
Career: 32, Peter Cunningham
Season: 6, Lou Gigliotti (1992)
Winning Percentage
Career: 37.8%, Bill Auberlen (14 of 37)
20+ starts
Season: 75.0%, Lou Gigliotti, (6-8) - 5+
starts
Top-Three Class Finishes
Season: 8, Neil Hannemann, 1992 Class D
8, Bill Auberlen, 2003 Touring Car
8, Randy Pobst, 2003 GT
Top-Three Class Finishing Percentage
Career: 69.77%, Neil Hannemann (30 of
20+ starts
43) Top-Five Class Finishes
Season: 10, Bill Auberlen, 2003 Touring
Car
Top-Five Class Finishing Percentage
Career: 84.4%, R.K. Smith (27-32)
20+ starts
Season: 100%, by 18 drivers
Top-10 Class Finishes
Season: 11, Peter Cunningham, Andy
Pilgrim
(both in 2005)
Overall Fastest Race Lap
116.440 mph, Martin Snow, Watkins Glen,
1996
Overall Fastest Winner’s Speed
112.435 mph, Martin Snow, Watkins Glen,
1996
Overall Closest Margin of Victory
GT - 0.031-sec., Randy Pobst over Ricardo
Imery, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 2006
TC - 0.005-sec., Brandon Davis over Eric
Curran, Denver, 2006
Overall Widest Margin of Victory
Seven laps, Neil Hannemann, Mosport
Park, 1991
In single-class sprint format:
1:32.418, Michael Galati, Mosport, 2006
Overall Longest Race (time)
24:02:36.06, 2028.68 miles, Mosport
Park, 1990.
Winners: Andy Pilgrim, John Heinricy, Don
Knowles, Stu Hayner
Overall Shortest Race (time)
40:11.07, 62.73 miles, Lime Rock Park,
1996.
Winner: Boris Said
Most Positions Gained By A Race
Winner
43, Bill Auberlen, Lime Rock Park, Touring
Car Race 1, 2001 (Started 44th)
Top-10 Class Finishing Percentage
Career: 96.9%, R.K. Smith (31 of 32)
20+ starts
Season: 100%, by 47 drivers
The Records
Class Fastest Qualifiers
Career: 36 Pierre Kleinubing
Season: 8, Pierre Kleinubing, 1999
Overall Fastest Qualifying Speed
119.620 mph, Rob Rizzo, Watkins Glen,
1996
159
Rookie of the Year:
1995
Class S
Class T
Class SP
Jochen Rohr
David Seuss
Paul Booher
1996
Class S2
Class T1
Class T2
Almo Coppelli
Brian C. Clarke
Michael Galati
1997
Class T1
Class T2
Ron Johnson
Pierre Kleinubing
1998
Class T1
Class T2
Reese Cox
Hugh Plumb
1999
George Biskup
GT
Touring Car Kevin Schrantz
2000
Justin Jackson
GT
Touring Car Neal Sapp
2001
Bob Miller
GT
Touring Car Roger Foo
2002
John Young
GT
Touring Car Marc Kirberg
2003
GT
Tom Oates
Touring Car Matt Plumb
2004
Michael McCann
GT
Touring Car Dino Crescentini
2005
Sonny Whelen
GT
Touring Car Brandon Davis
2006
Lawson Aschenbach
GT
Touring Car Jeff Courtney
2007
Brian Kubinski
GT
Touring Car Stan Wilson
The Records
2008
Gunter Schaldach
GT
Touring Car Jason Saini
2009
Bill Ziegler
GT
Touring Car Eric Foss
160
Manufacturer Records
Year-by-Year Champions:
1999
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
2000
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
2001
GT
Audi
Touring Car BMW
1990:
Class WC
Class SP
Chevrolet
Eagle
1991:
Class WC
Class SS
Class SP
Chevrolet
Not Awarded
Eagle
1992:
Class A & B
Class C
Class D
Not Awarded
Honda
Eagle
2002
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
1993:
Class A & B
Class C
Not Awarded
Honda
2003
GT
Audi
Touring Car BMW
1994:
Class WC
Class TC
Class SP
Porsche
Chevrolet
Honda
2004
GT
Audi
Touring Car BMW
1995:
Class S
Class T
Class SP
Porsche
Eagle
Honda
2005
GT
Cadillac
Touring Car Acura
1996:
Class S1
Class S2
Class T1
Class T2
Not Awarded
Saleen
Eagle
Honda
2006
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
1997:
Class T1
Class T2
2007
GT
Cadillac
Touring Car Mazda
Ford/ Saleen
Saturn
1998
Class T1
Class T2
2008
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
Ford/ Saleen
Acura
2009
GT
Porsche
Touring Car Acura
The Records
161
72
66
52
49
31
24
23
21
18
14
12
8
7
4
3
1
Model Class Victories
Chevrolet Corvette
1
2
Acura Integra R
Eagle Talon/Turbo AWD
4
Chevrolet Camaro
Acura TSX
5
Honda Prelude/Si
7
Ford Saleen Mustang/SR
Mazda 6
9
BMW M3
Olsmobile Achieva
Porsche 911 Cup
12 Acura NSX
Dodge Viper
14 Porsche 911 GT3
15 BMW 325i
Cadillac CTS-V
17 Audi S4 Competition
BMW 328is
Lotus Esprit Turbo
20 Audi A4 Turbo
BMW 325is
Saturn SC
23 Audi RS 6
24 Acura RSX
Honda CRX Si
Nissan 300ZX Turbo
Porsche 911 GT
Porsche 911 GT/RSR/Turbo
30 Mazda Protégé
31 BMW 328i Ford Mustang
Mosler Intruder
35 BMW 325Ci
BMW 328ci
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Calais
Porsche 911 EVO/GT2
Volvo S60
42 BMW 328Ti
Honda Civic Si
Mazda RX-7 Turbo
Nissan Sentra SE-R
Pontiac Sunfire
Porsche 944 Turbo
Volvo S60R
42
31
22
18
17
16
14
13
12
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
The Records
Manufacturer Class Victories
Acura
1
2
Chevrolet
BMW
3
4
Porsche
5
Eagle
6
Honda, Mazda
Ford (including Saleen)
8
9
Audi
10 Oldsmobile
11 Dodge
12 Cadillac
13 Lotus
14 Nissan, Saturn
16 Volvo
17 Mosler
18 Pontiac
162
Circuit-by-Circuit Race Winners
AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB
Joliet, Illinois
2009 Randy Pobst (GT)
Jason Saini (TC)
AUTODROME DEL NORTE
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
1991 Boris Said (WC)
Tommy Archer (SP)
CLEVELAND BURKE LAKEFRONT AIRPORT
Cleveland, Ohio
1992 R.K. Smith (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Norris Rancourt (C)
Bill Saunders (D)
2005 Robin Liddell (GT)
Pierre Kleinubing (TC)
DALLAS GRAND PRIX
Dallas, Texas
1993 R.K. Smith (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Peter Cunningham (C)
1994 Price Cobb (WC)
Lou Gigliotti (TC)
Peter Cunningham (SP)
DALLAS GRAND PRIX IN ADDISON
Addison, Texas
1990 R.K. Smith (WC)
Bobby Archer (SP)
Lou Gigliotti (SS)
Norris Rancourt (SP)
DENVER GRAND PRIX
Denver, Colo.
1990 Scott Lagasse (WC)
Bobby Archer (SP)
1991 Doc Bundy (WC)
Terry Borcheller (SS)
Dave Jolly (SP)
2005 Wolf Henzler (GT)
Eric Curran (TC)
2006 Brandon Davis (TC)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
Mauro Baldi (A)
Neil Hannemann (B)
Chuck Hemmingson (C)
DETROIT GRAND PRIX
Detroit, Mich.
2001 Peter Cunningham (GT)
FIREBIRD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Phoenix, Ariz.
1992 Shawn Hendricks (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
Neil Hannemann (D)
HEARTLAND PARK
Topeka, Kan.
1997 Rob Fellows (T1)
Johannes van Overbeek (T2)
1998 Bill Cooper (T1)
Pierre Kleinubing (T2)
INFINEON RACEWAY (Sears Point)
Sonoma, Calif.
1990 Doc Bundy (WC)
Jim Dentici (SP)
1991 Shawn Hendricks (WC)
Mitch Wright/Bo Lemler (SP)
1992 R.K. Smith (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
John Green (C)
Neil Hannemann (D)
1993 Elliott Forbes-Robinson (A)
Neil Hannemann (B)
1995 Price Cobb (S)
Kermit Upton (T)
Terry Borcheller (SP)
1996 Melanie Snow (S1)
Shane Lewis (S2)
Vic Rice (GTA)
Peter Cunningham (T1)
Paul Booher (T2)
2000 Bill Cooper (GT)
Hugh Plumb (TC)
2001 Johannes van Overbeek (GT)
Neal Sapp (TC)
2003 Bill Auberlen (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
Bill Auberlen (TC, Race 1)
Nic Jonsson (TC, Race 2)
2005 Lou Gigliotti (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
2006 Ricardo Imery (GT)
The Records
DES MOINES GRAND PRIX
Des Moines, Iowa
Mitch Wright (SP)
1991 Shawn Hendricks (WC)
Jack Benedict (SS)
1992 R.K. Smith (A)
Tom Benua (B)
Dave Jolly (C)
Bill Saunders (D)
1993 R.K. Smith (A)
1994
163
LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Las Vegas, Nev.
2000 Michael Galati (GT)
Hugh Plumb (TC)
LIME ROCK PARK
Lime Rock, Conn.
1992 Kim Baker (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
Neil Hannemann (D)
David Lapham (B)
1995 David Murry (S)
Kermit Upton (T)
Dave Jolly (SP)
1996 Almo Coppelli (S2)
Boris Said III (T1)
Paul Booher (T2)
1997 Kermit Upton III (T1)
Kristian Skavnes (T2)
1998 Peter Cunningham (T1)
1999 Bobby Archer (GT)
Michael Galati (TC)
2000 Terry Borcheller (GT)
Kevin Schrantz (TC)
Pierre Kleinubing (TC, Race 2)
2003 Bill Auberlen (GT, Race 1)
Bill Auberlen (GT, Race 2)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
2005 Max Angelelli (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
2007 Chip Herr (TC)
2008 Kuno Wittmer (TC, Race 1)
Chip Herr (TC, Race 2)
The Records
GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
Long Beach, Calif.
2006 Ron Fellows (GT)
2007 Eric Curran (GT)
2008 Brandon Davis (GT)
2009 James Sofronas (GT)
LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Concord, N.C.
2000 Bill Cooper (GT)
2007 Andy Pilgrim (GT)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2009
John Heinricy (GT)
Pierre Kleinubing (Touring)
Mike Fitzgerald (GT)
Alfred duPont (TC)
Peter Cunningham (GT)
Roger Foo (TC)
Randy Pobst (GT)
Paul Lambert (TC)
Paul Mumford (GT)
Jeff Altenburg (TC)
Wolf Henzler (GT)
Jeff Altenburg (TC)
Max Papis (GT)
John Angelone (TC)
Randy Pobst (GT)
Eric Curran (TC)
Andy Pilgrim (GT)
Peter Cunningham (TC)
James Sofronas (GT)
MIAMI GRAND PRIX
Miami, Fla.
1994 Alencar Jr. (A)
Willy Lewis (B)
Norris Rancourt (C)
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE
Lexington, Ohio
1994 John Heinricy (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Norris Rancourt (C)
Paul Booher (T2)
1998 Terry Borcheller (T1)
Hugh Plumb (T2)
1999 Peter Kitchak (GT)
Michael Galati (Touring)
Will Turner (TC)
2003 Bob Endicott (TC)
Matt Plumb (TC)
Chip Herr (TC)
2007 Eric Curran (GT)
Joey Hand (TC)
2008 Tommy Archer (GT)
Kuno Wittmer (TC)
2009 Brandon Davis (GT)
Jason Saini (TC)
MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
Monterey, Calif.
1990 Doc Bundy (WC)
164
MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK
Tooele, Utah
Jeff Altenburg (TC)
Jason Saini (TC)
GRAND PRIX OF MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, Minn.
1996 Shane Lewis (S2)
Greg Theiss (T1)
Chuck Hemmingson (T2)
1997 Peter Kitchak (T1)
Paul Booher (T2)
1998 Chris Wiehle (T1)
Lance Stewart (T2)
Paul Bonaccorsi (TC, Race 2)
Phil McClure (GT)
Michael Galati (GT, Race 1)
Ron Fellows (GT, Race 2)
Matt Plumb (TC)
Ron Fellows (GT)
Charles Espenlaub (TC)
Michael Galati (GT)
Chip Herr (TC)
Eric Curran (GT)
Adam Pecorarri (TC)
Eric Curran (GT)
Michael Galati (TC)
Jason Daskalos (GT)
Kuno Wittmer (TC)
NEW JERSEY MOTORSPORTS PARK
Millville, N.J.
2008 James Sofronas (GT)
2009 Andy Pilgrim (GT)
Jason Saini (GT)
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Phoenix, Ariz.
1995 John Heinricy (S)
Neil Hannemann (T)
Paul Booher (SP)
1996 Willy Lewis (T1)
Charlie Downes (T2)
PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Will Turner (Touring, Race 1)
Chuck Hemmingson (Touring, Race 2)
PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Portland, Ore.
Neal Sapp (TC)
2005 Dino Crescentini (GT)
Randy Pobst (TC)
PUERTO RICO GRAND PRIX
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bill Auberlen (TC)
The Records
MOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Bowmanville, Ontario, Can.
1990 Andy Pilgrim/John Heinricy/Don
Knowles/Stuart Hayner (WC)
Peter Cunningham/Ron Lauzon/
Randy Pobst (SP)
1991 R.K. Smith/Ken Wallace/Ken
Wilden/RichardSpenard/David
Empringham/Tommy Clark/
Peter Cunningham (WC)
Lou Gigliotti/Leighton Reese/Brad Hoyt/
Mark Behm/John Petrick (SS)
Mitch Wright/Tommy Archer/
Bobby Archer(SP)
1992 Kim Baker/Ray Kong/Peter Hanson/Jim
Minneker/Don Knowles (A)
Chris Neville/Doug Goad/David Murry (B)
Taz Harvey/Ron Lauzon/Jim Dentici (C)
Bill Saunders/Beaver Theodosakis/Mitch
Wright/AndyPilgrim/Neil Hannemann (D)
Neil Hannemann (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
1994 Richard Spenard (A)
Bill Cooper (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
Lou Gigliotti (T)
Dave Jolly (SP)
Kermit Upton (T1)
Charlie Downes (T2)
1997 Rob Fellows (T1)
2002 David Farmer (GT)
Ken Dobson (TC, Race 1)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
RENO GRAND PRIX
Reno, Nev.
1996 Andy Pilgrim (S1)
Rob Rizzo (S2)
Vic Rice (GTA)
165
1997
Peter Cunningham (T1)
Michael Galati (T2)
Lou Gigliotti (T1)
Johannes van Overbeek (T2)
The Records
ROAD AMERICA
Elkhart Lake, Wis.
1991 Bobby Carradine (WC)
Lou Gigliotti (SS)
Dave Jolly (SP)
1992 Bill Cooper (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Randy Pobst (C)
Bill Saunders (D)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Norris Rancourt (C)
Joe Varde (TC)
Dave Jolly (SP)
Willy Lewis (T)
Peter Schwartzott (SP)
1996 Andy Pilgrim (S2)
Greg Theiss (T1)
Michael Galati (T2)
Lance Stewart (T2)
Paul Bonaccorsi (TC)
2003 Mike Fitzgerald (GT)
Chip Herr (TC)
James Clay (TC)
2009 Tony Rivera (GT)
ROAD ATLANTA
Braselton, Ga.
1990 Doc Bundy (WC)
Bobby Archer (SP)
1993 David Murry (A)
Kermit Upton III (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
Neil Hannemann (TC)
1995 John Heinricy (S)
Neil Hannemann (T)
Paul Booher (SP)
Kermit Upton (T)
Ron Emmick (SP)
1999 Kermit Upton (GT, Race 1)
Kermit Upton (GT, Race 2)
166
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Mike Fitzgerald (TC)
Michael Galati (GT, Race 1)
Peter Cunningham (GT, Race 2)
Neal Sapp (TC, Race 1)
Neal Sapp (TC, Race 2)
Peter Cunningham (GT)
Mike Fitzgerald (GT, Race 1)
Randy Pobst (GT, Race 2)
Pierre Kleinubing (TC, Race 2)
Pierre Kleinubing (TC, NON POINTS)
Max Angelelli (GT)
Max Papis (GT)
Andy Pilgrim (GT)
Randy Pobst (TC)
Lawson Aschenbach (GT)
Michael Galati (TC)
Brandon Davis (GT)
Chip Herr (TC)
Andy Pilgrim (GT)
Seth Thomas (TC)
ST. PETERSBURG GRAND PRIX
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Bobby Archer (SP)
Willy Lewis (T1)
Alain Chebeir (T2)
Peter Schwarzott (T2)
Randy Pobst (TC)
2006 Lawson Aschenbach (GT)
Randy Pobst (TC)
CIRCUIT STE. CROIX
Ste. Croix, Quebec, Canada
SAN DIEGO GRAND PRIX (NTC CIRCUIT)
San Diego, Calif.
2000 Terry Borcheller (GT)
Neal Sapp (TC)
SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Sebring, Fla.
2003 Phil McClure (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
2004 Max Angelelli (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
2006
2007
2008
2009
Michael McCann (GT)
Bill Auberlen (TC)
Eric Curran (GT)
Jeff Altenburg (TC)
Randy Pobst (GT)
Tony Rivera (GT)
Seth Thomas (TC)
TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Fort Worth, Texas
Don Salama (TC)
Steve Pfeffer (TC)
TEXAS WORLD SPEEDWAY
College Station, Texas
1991 Bobby Carradine (WC)
Bill Gray/Stu Hayner (SS)
Peter Schwartzott (SP)
GRAND PRIX OF TORONTO
Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Can.
GRAND PRIX de TROIS-RIVIERES
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Can.
Willy Lewis (B)
Ron Emmick (C)
1994 Mauro Baldi (A)
Bill Cooper (B)
Dave Jolly (C)
Willy Lewis (T)
1996 Shane Lewis (S2)
Lou Gigliotti (T1)
Alain Chebeir (T2)
Michael Galati (T2)
Pierre Kleinubing (Touring)
Chuck Hemmingson (TC)
GRAND PRIX OF WASHINGTON, DC
Washington, D.C.
Marc Kirberg (TC)
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
1992 Bill Cooper (A)
Lou Gigliotti (B)
Dave Jolly (C)
Bill Saunders (D)
1996 Martin Snow (S1)
Steve Saleen (S2)
Lou Gigliotti (T1)
Peter Schwartzott (T2)
1997 Lou Gigliotti (T1)
Michael Galati (T2)
Lance Stewart (T2)
Randy Pobst (TC 1)
Randy Pobst (TC 2)
Michael Galati (TC)
2009 Dino Crescentini (GT)
Seth Thomas (TC)
WEST MICHIGAN GRAND PRIX
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Lance Stewart (T2)
Will Turner (Touring)
The Records
VANCOUVER MOLSON INDY
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
1999 Scotty B. White (GT)
Hugh Plumb (Touring)
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Alton, Va.
2002 John Young (GT)
2008 Kuno Wittmer (TC)
167
Season-by-Season Point Standings (Top-10)
Pts.
201
183
180
169
168
152
150
128
113
112
Awards SPT DAL LAG DMO RATMOS DEN STP
NA
4
1
2
1 3 10
5
1
NA
1
14
1
8 1 6
2
6
NA
3
2
7
4 13 1
7
2
NA 10
5 11
2 4 2
8
3
NA
1
13 12
3 2 6
1 13
NA
8
4
9
7 7 1 12
8
NA
2
3
8
6 5 3 14 20
NA
4
7
5
5 10 10
-
9
NA
5
15 10
9 14 7 11 17
NA 11
6
4
- 18 9
6 11
BPs.Driver
Car
1 Bobby Archer
Eagle Talon
2 Peter Cunningham Honda CRX Si
3 Tommy Archer
Eagle Talon
4 Mitch Wright
Eagle Talon
5 Jim Dentici
Honda CRX Si
6 Scott Gaylord
Mazda Miata
7 Chuck Hemmingson Oldsmobile Calais
8 Mark Wolocatiuk
Chevrolet Beretta
9 Herb Shriver
Honda CRX Si
10 Irv Hoerr
Oldsmobile Calais
Pts.
211
204
185
170
150
145
111
105
88
85
Awards SPT DAL LAG DMO RATMOS DEN STP
NA
5
1
7
3 1 2
1
1
NA
2
4
1
2 17 1
3
3
NA
5
2
6 15 2 2
2
2
NA
4
12 11
1 3 2
4 10
NA
1
14
9
6 6 12
5
5
NA
9
3
2
8 7 4
6
NA 14
5
3
7 5 10
-
NA
3
15 15
5 4
-
-
9
NA
8
9 10 10 11 14
-
NA 12
7
4
4 17
-
-
-
1991 (World Challenge Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Shawn Hendricks
Chevrolet Corvette
2 Bobby Carradine
Lotus Esprit Turbo
3 Andy Pilgrim
Chevrolet Corvette
4 John Schneider
Nissan 300 ZX T
5 R.K. Smith
Chevrolet Corvette
6 Kat Teasdale
Chevrolet Corvette
7 Doc Bundy
Lotus Esprit Turbo
8 Boris Said III
Ford Mustang
9 John Heinricy
Chevrolet Corvette
10 Kenny Wallace
Chevrolet Corvette
Pts. Awards SPT DAL DMO MOSDENRAM TWS SAL
212
NA
1
2
1
4 2 2
2
5
173
NA
4
4
5
-
3 1
1
6
170
NA 10
5
6
3 7 7
3
3
167
NA
9
10 10
7 11 5
5
2
161
NA 12
1
2
1 4 6
9
156
NA
8
6 11
2 6 9 10
4
143
NA
2
8
3
- 1 3
8
140
NA 11
14
8
4 12 13 11
1
134
NA 10
3
4
6 13 8
7
129
NA
5
13 12
1 9 12
6
-
1991 (Super Sport Class)
s. Driver
P
Car
1 Lou Gigliotti
Chevrolet Camaro
2 Terry Borcheller
Ford Mustang
3 Tom Boston
Chevrolet Camaro
4 Bill Gray
Chevrolet Camaro
5 Brad Hoyt
Chevrolet Camaro
6 Stu Hayner
Chevrolet Camaro
Jack Benedict
Chevrolet Camaro
John Petrick
Chevrolet Camaro
Leighton Reese
Chevrolet Camaro
10 Kevin Dillon
Ford Mustang
Pts.
165
89
87
57
55
30
30
30
30
27
Awards DAL DMO MOS DENRAMTWS
NA
1
3
1
3 1 3
NA
-
6
-
1 5 8
NA
4
-
-
2 8 7
NA
-
-
-
-
- 1
NA
-
-
1
-
- 3
NA
-
-
-
-
- 1
NA
-
1
-
-
-
NA
-
-
1
-
-
NA
-
-
1
-
-
NA
-
2
-
-
-
-
1991 (Super Production Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Mitch Wright
Eagle Talon
2 Norris Rancourt
Honda CRX Si
3 Rob Vining
Honda CRX Si
4 Taz Harvey
Honda CRX Si
5 Tommy Archer
Eagle Talon
6 Bobby Archer
Eagle Talon
7 Dave Jolly
Oldsmobile Calais
8 Dave Guider
Mazda RX-7
9 Bobby Wolf
Honda CRX Si
10 Mark Simo
Honda CRX Si
Pts.
184
178
151
149
143
133
119
117
110
101
Awards SPT DAL DMO MOSDENRAM TWS SAL
NA
1
10 10
1 7 4
2
4
NA
5
1
3
5 2 13
6
5
NA
-
8
2
9 3 7
3
6
NA
2
5
5
8 5 9 16 12
NA
8
-
6
1
- 8
2
1
NA
6
11
-
1 13 6 14
4
NA
-
-
7
2 1 1 13
NA 10
-
8
6 4 5
7
NA
4
- 12
7 6 11
-
7
NA
9
-
4
3 8
-
8
8
The Records
Ps. Driver
Car
1 R. K. Smith
Chevrolet Corvette
2 Doc Bundy
Lotus Esprit Turbo
3 John Heinricy
Chevrolet Corvette
4 Boris Said III
Chevrolet Corvette
5 Scott Lagasse
Lotus Esprit Turbo
6 Andy Pilgrim
Chevrolet Corvette
7 Lou Gigliotti
Chevrolet Corvette
8 Claude Poirier
Chevrolet Corvette
9 Kenny Wallace
Chevrolet Corvette
10 Dave Jolly
Mazda RX-7 Turbo
168
1992 (A Class)
Ps. Driver
1 R.K. Smith
2 Kim Baker
3 Bill Cooper
4 Jim Minneker
5 Mike Maloney
6 Boris Said III
7 Shawn Hendricks
8 Kenny Wallace Jr.
9 John Heinricy
10 Mark Dismore
Car
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Ford Mustang
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Pts.
215
188
183
156
116
85
76
51
42
40
Awards FBD DMO WGI LRP CLEMOS RAM SPT
NA
3
1
2
3 1 4
3
1
NA 12
8
4
1 3 1
4
2
NA
2
3
1
2
- 4
1
5
NA 11
6
3
- 4 1
2
7
NA
9
-
-
5 5 8
5
6
NA
-
7
-
-
- 4
6
3
NA
1
2
-
-
- 6
-
NA
6
10
-
-
- 9
-
NA 10
-
-
-
- 2
-
NA
-
-
-
- 2
-
-
-
1992 (B Class)
s. Driver
P
1 Lou Gigliotti
2 Makoto Yamamura
3 Chris Neville
4 Terry Borcheller
5 Michael Pettiford
6 Tom Benua
7 Albert Mirko
8 Judd Jackson
9 Kermit Upton III
10 Mitch Wright
Car
Chevrolet Camaro
Mazda RX-7 Turbo
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang
Chevrolet Camaro
Eagle Talon Turbo
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Chevrolet Camaro
BMW M3
Dodge Daytona
Pts.
226
182
163
123
102
87
80
76
70
60
NA
1
6
1
1 1 2
1
1
NA
3
5
2
2 3 2 10 10
NA
4
8
5
9 5 1
6
9
NA
6
9
- 10 2
-
3
5
NA
2
10 13
4
-
-
-
3
NA
7
1
-
- 4
-
9
NA
-
4
9 11
-
-
-
2
NA
-
-
4
8 6
-
8
NA
-
-
3
4 7
-
2
NA
5
3 11
-
-
-
-
-
1992 (C Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Dave Jolly
Oldsmobile Achieva
2 Taz Harvey
Honda Prelude
3 Norris Rancourt
Honda Prelude
4 Ron Emmick
Oldsmobile Achieva
5 Sergio Afanasenko Mazda RX-7
6 Randy Pobst
Honda Prelude
7 Chuck Hemmingson Oldsmobile Achieva
8 Ed Manger
Oldsmobile Calais
9 Ron Lauzon
Honda Prelude
10 Jim Dentici
Honda Prelude
Pts.
212
191
161
156
125
82
50
38
30
30
NA
4
1
1
2 2 2
2
5
NA
3
5
3
4 3 1
4
6
NA
2
2
2
3 1 3
-
NA
1
-
4
1
- 4
3
3
NA
-
4
5
5 4
-
6
7
NA
-
-
-
-
- 3
1
2
NA
-
-
-
-
- 2
-
4
NA
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
8
NA
-
-
-
-
- 1
-
NA
-
-
-
-
- 1
-
-
1992 (D Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Neil Hannemann
2 Bill Saunders
3 John Mahr
4 Oscar Peralta
5 Bob Beede
Pts.
228
227
101
83
62
NA
1
2
2
1 2 1
2
1
NA
2
1
1
2 1 1
1
4
NA
-
4
5
6 6
-
6
NA
-
6
-
- 9
-
4
3
NA
-
-
4
5 7
-
-
-
1993 (A Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Elliott Forbes-RobinsonNissan 300ZX
2 R K. Smith
Chevrolet Corvette
3 Boris Said
Saleen Mustang
4 Bill Cooper
Chevrolet Camaro
5 Steve Saleen
Saleen Mustang
John Schneider
Nissan 300ZX
7 Shawn Hendricks
Chevrolet Corvette
8 Chuck Cottrell
Porsche 944 Turbo
9 Daniel Jones
Porsche Turbo
10 David Murry
Lotus Esprit
Pts.
225
212
136
123
88
88
63
42
40
30
Awards RAT MOS STP DMO LRP TRV RAM DAL
18,375
2
1
1
3 1 1
1
4
20,853
3
2
3
1 4 2
3
1
5,300
5
4
4
-
5 5
-
2
5,625
4
3
5
2 2
-
-
2,575
-
-
-
4 3 6
6
2,200
8
6
6
5
- 4
4
7
2,907
-
-
-
-
- 3
8
6
1,200
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
5
1,000
7
5
-
-
-
-
-
3,000
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1993 (B Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Willy Lewis
2 Lou Gigliotti
3 Neil Hannemann
4 Kermit Upton III
5 Paul Armstrong
6 Chris Neville
7 Dave Lapham
8 Tom Natasi II
9 Myron Cottrell
10 Bill Cooper
Pts.
190
167
165
157
153
151
144
90
82
75
Awards RAT MOS STP DMO
9,375
2
4
3 14
18,921 15
2 10
1
8,525
3
1
1
3
6,525
1
10
8
4
3,575
8
6
4 15
6,178
7
3
7 16
7,575
4
5
2
2
1,825
6
9 13
5
800 13
8
-
9
9,136
-
-
-
-
Car
Eagle Talon
Eagle Talon
Volkswagon GTI
Eagle Talon
Suzuki Swift
LRP TRV RAM DAL
2 1
4
4
12 17
1
1
13 6 12 18
3 18
5 10
5 4
8
7
18 3
6
3
1 14 25 25
7
-
-
17 12 18 23
- 2
2
5
The Records
Car
Eagle Talon
Chevrolet Camaro
Eagle Talon
BMW M3
Eagle Talon
Chevrolet Camaro
Mazda RX-7 Turbo
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
169
1993 (C Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Ron Emmick
2 Peter Cunningham
3 Norris Rancourt
4 Dave Jolly
5 Michael Sturm
6 Gary Ain
7 Taz Harvey
8 Keith Mitchell
9 Mark Youngquist
10 Bob Beede
Car
Oldsmobile Achieva
Honda Prelude
Honda Prelude
Oldsmobile Achieva
Honda Prelude
Mazda RX-7
Honda Prelude
Saturn
Nissan Sentra
Suzuki Swift GT
Pts.
218
215
182
162
151
141
136
130
127
118
The Records
Ps. Driver
Car
Pts.
1 Price Cobb
Porsche 911 Turbo 252
2 Mauro Baldi
Porsche 911 Turbo 220
3 John Heinricy
Chevrolet Corvette 179
4 Jim Minneker
5 Victor Sifton
Chevrolet Camaro 129
6 Elliott Forbes-RobinsonNissan 300ZX
101
7 John Schneider
Nissan 300ZX
92
8 Steve Dinan
BMW 540i
79
9 Jeff Nowicki
Chevrolet Corvette ZR155
10 Scott Allman
Awards RAT MOS STP DMO LRP TRV RAM DAL
16,350
1
1
2
1 5 1
3
3
16,000
2
2
1
2 1 9
2
1
10,350
4
-
4
3 2 2
1
2
4,875 14
3
3 11 3 3
4 14
3,250
5
5
6
7 11 6
9
8
2,425
7
8
7 14 6 8 11
7
2,600 13
7
5 15 12 5 10
5
2,725
6
6
- 12 4 7
8 10
2,225 11
11
8
5 8 12
7
6
2,000
8
12 10
9
9 10 17 15
Awards MIA MOH DMO TRVMOS RAT RAM DAL
19,350
4
2
3
3 5 1
1
1
14,975
6
5
1
1 3 6
2
2
10,500
-
1
2
8 2 2
9
7
4,475
-
8
8
5 4 11
4
4
2,725
7
11
5
7 6 9
8
4,950
3
3
4
2 12
-
-
3,125
2
7
7
4 11
-
-
2,725
-
6 11
- 8 10
3
1,800
-
9
-
- 9
-
5
1,200
-
-
9
9
-
- 10
8
1994 (Touring Car Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Neil Hannemann
Eagle Talon
2 Lou Gigliotti
Chevrolet Camaro
3 Bill Cooper
Chevrolet Camaro
4 Willy Lewis
Eagle Talon
5 Paul Armstrong
Eagle Talon
6 Chris Neville
Chevrolet Camaro
7 Joe Varde
Chevrolet Camaro
8 Rick Fairbanks
Chevrolet Camaro
9 Kermit Upton III
BMW M-3
10 Skip Marelia
Chevrolet Camaro
Pts. Awards MIA MOH DMO TRVMOS RAT RAM DAL
211 $13,075
2
2
1
3 3 1 15
8
204 29,414 12
1
5 13 4 3
2
1
197 31,534
6
18
2
1 1 2 12 14
177
8,275
1
11
3 15 2 9
3
5
163
7,270
3
6 17
5
5 5
5
3
149
8,377
9
3
6
4 6 22
6
6
134 17,504
8
12 16
2 12 20
1 19
113
1,250 13
14 14 16 11 10
8
9
109
4,438
-
-
4
6
- 6
4
4
104
1,600 22
9 12
9 9 16 13 10
s. Driver
P
Car
1 Dave Jolly
Olds Achieva
2 Peter Cunningham Honda PreludeSi
3 Norris Rancourt
Honda PreludeSi
4 Taz Harvey
Honda Prelude
5 Ron Emmick
Olds Achieva
6 Dave Rosenblum
Saturn
7 Jody Lift
Honda PreludeSi
8 Jay Hartz
Honda PreludeSi
9 Michael Sturm
Honda Prelude
10 Bob Beede
Suzuki Swift
Pts. Awards MIA MOH DMO TRVMOS RAT RAM DAL
216 $13,850
2
2
5
1 2 5
1
6
213 $10,975
4
7
2 11 5 1
2
1
190 $9,175
1
1
3
4 7 15 15
3
144 $4,325
6
4
4
2 15 17
4 18
142 $4,775
3
6 15
- 1 16 19 17
141 $3,250 13
3
8
5 14 18
6
4
106 $3,225
5
10
6 14 3 6 22
106 $1,600
7
9
7 12 10 14 17
99 $2,325
-
-
9
6 8 4 23
8
96
$800 15
19 10 10 12 13 21 12
1995 (Sports Class)
s. Driver
P
1 David Murry
2 John Heinricy
3 Jochen Rohr
4 Jim Minneker
5 Victor Sifton
6 Bob Bondurant
7 Stephen Dinan
8 Steve Saleen
9 Mark Knepper
10 Pierre Bareil
Car
Porsche 911 GT2
Chevrolet Corvette
Porsche 911 GT2
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Camaro Saleen Mustang
BMW 540
Saleen Mustang
SSZ Stradale
Mustang LX
Pts.
Purse PIR MOS LRP RAM TRV RAT RAT SPT
432 $28,200
2
1
1
1 1 11
1
2
369 15,400
1
12
2
4 5 1
7
3
334 11,100
3
4
6
3 2 5
6
4
329 10,200
4
3
3
5 3 6
5
5
260
5,900
6
2
8 14 11 3 10
253
4,700 11
8
4 11 8 10
3
9
234 21,700
5
-
-
2
- 4
2
8
221
3,600
7
9
- 13 4 7
4
177
2,000
-
7
9 10 10 13
9
175
1,600
-
11 11 DS 9 9 12
7
1995 (Touring Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Neil Hannemann
2 Willy Lewis
3 Kermit Upton
4 Bill Cooper
5 Paul Armstrong
6 Lou Gigliotti
7 David Seuss
8 Greg Theiss
9 Mark Dixon
10 Gene Michaux
Car
Eagle Talon AWD
Eagle Talon AWD
BMW M3
Chevrolet Camaro
Eagle Talon AWD
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
Pontiac Firebird
Chevrolet Camaro
Pts.
389 $23,600
1
2
3
3 2 1
4
4
388 19,700
2
8
2
1 1 3
6
2
374 46,950
-
5
1
5 3 4
1
1
290
9,500 10
3 16
4 4 10 13
3
283
6,300
4
4
5 13 5 6
7 11
263 17,300
3
1 14
2 12 15
3 18
244
5,800
8
6 11
7 13 5 14
6
214
5,500
5
9
6
6 6 21 18
148
1,000 12
- 13
9 7
-
- 12
143
1,700
-
- 10 11
- 8 15
7
170
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Peter Cunningham Honda Prelude
2 Paul Booher
Saturn
3 Dave Jolly
Olds Achieva
4 Ron Emmick
Olds Achieva
5 Chris Neville
Honda Prelude
6 Peter Schwartzott Honda Prelude
7 Mark Spruell
Olds Achieva
8 Taz Harvey
Honda Prelude
9 Albert Mirko
Honda Prelude
10 David Rosenblum Saturn
Si
Si
Si
Si
Si
1996 (S1 Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Martin Snow
2 Klaus Bytzek
3 Melanie Snow
4 Andy Pilgrim
5 Harry Bytzek
Car
Porsche
Porsche
Porsche
Porsche
Porsche
1996 (S2 Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Almo Coppelli
2 Shane Lewis
3 Steve Saleen
4 Rob Rizzo
5 Doc Bundy
6 Steve Dinan
7 Jochen Rohr
8 Klaus Bytzek
9 Thomas Safar
10 Monte Smith
Car
Callaway Corvette
Mosler Intruder
Saleen Mustang
Saleen Mustang
Lotus Esprit
BMW 540 Sport
Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche 911 GT2
Chevrolet Corvette
Porsche 911 Turbo
911
911
911
911
911
Pts.
382 $22,400
2
4
3
2 1 2
3
3
317 15,700
1
16
7 16 14 1
2
2
309 17,150
3
1
1
5 4 18 21 11
305 14,300 14
2
2 DQ 10 3
1 12
278
6,800
4
8 10
8 2 8
8
6
252
8,000
-
3
9
1 DS 20
4
4
244
6,650 13
7
6
9 8 7
5 15
236
3,000
5
5 24
4 9 13 12 13
220
2,700
8
10 13 10 15 5 22
5
180
1,500 11
9 18 18 12 6 17 10
Pts.
GT2 EVO87
GT2 EVO83
Turbo 57
35
GT2
GT2 EVO27
Purse WGI REN SPT
$4,500
1
4
3
1,500
2
2
4
3,800
-
3
1
2,500
-
1
1,000
-
-
2
Pts.
Purse STP MOS LRP MIN TRVRAM WGI REN SPT
247 $27,400
1
1
1
4 8 7
2
4
3
245 27,250 11
2
4
1 1 2
6
6
1
205 21,700
7
10
3 10 3 3
1
7
4
195 13,500
-
9
2
9 9 8
7
1
2
180
8,600
8
4 10
2 6 13
8
5
9
155 12,600
4
7 12
5 4 4
9
- 11
98
8,700
2
3
5
3
-
-
-
-
86
2,100
-
5
6 11 7 15
-
-
79
2,100
-
-
9
- 5 DS
-
3 10
68
1,500
-
-
-
-
- 6
5
2 DS
1996 (Touring 1 Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Pts.
Purse STP
1 Lou Gigliotti
Saleen Mustang
241 $31,800
2
2 Willy Lewis
Eagle Talon
230 18,300
1
3 Kermit Upton III
BMW M-3
228 23,150
4
4 Greg Theiss
Eagle Talon
220 16,300
-
5 Peter Cunningham Acura NSX
198 11,500
6
6 Brian Clarke
Callaway Camaro 160
5,750
7
7 Cameron Worth
Mazda RX-7 T
150
4,600 14
8 Mark Simo
Ford Mustang Cobra145
9,050
8
9 Walter M. Swick
BMW M-3
135
1,350 11
10 David Seuss
Saleen Mustang
130
4,300 13
PIR MOS LRP MIN TRV RAM WGI REN SPT
3 16
2 3 1 25
1
4
7
1
3 16 2 10 21
5
2
3
5
1
5 6 13 19
2
3
4
2
5
3 1 2
1
4 14
5
9
4
4 17 14 22
9
1
1
12
-
6 14 4
8
7
7 10
6
8
8 16
-
5
6 15
8
15
-
-
5 3
2
8 18
9
11 18 14 11 11 11 12 10 16
7 11 11 9
- 13 17
9 14
1996 (Touring 2 Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Michael Galati
Honda Prelude
2 Taz Harvey
Honda Prelude
3 Alain Chebeir
BMW 325 is
4 Paul Booher
Saturn SC
5 David Rosenblum Saturn SC
6 Terry Borcheller
BMW M-3
7 Walter Puckett
Saturn SC
8 Peter Schwartzott Honda Prelude
9 Fred Meyer
Honda Prelude
10 Michael Sturm
Honda Prelude
PIR MOS LRP MINRAM WGI REN SPT
4 10 25 5 1
6
1
2
3
5
5 3 2
7
7
4
8 11
2 8 5
5
4
6
14
6
1 2 11
3
5
1
6
7
3 17 12
4
6 12
2
3 21 15 3
2
2
12
9
4 4 9
9 DS
3
-
4
6 7 4
1
-
10
-
- 13 15
8 10 11
- 15 11
- 8
-
- 10
Pts.
Purse STP
211 $19,500
2
209 12,400
3
198 16,800
1
197 12,350 DS
171
6,400
4
157 19,400
-
141
5,450
-
137
7,000
9
89
2,800
-
78
2,000
8
PPI REN
1
2
15
1
2 10
6
4
7
9
9
5
8
6
11 11
- 12
-
-
171
The Records
1997 (Touring One Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse STP LRP MOH WGI MIN HPT TRV MOS
251 $26,450
1
14
1
4 2 2
1
-
2 Lou Gigliotti
Saleen Mustang
232 16,150
3
2 10
1 8 13
2 19
3 Rob Fellows
Saleen Mustang
226 19,600 12
4
2
2 3 1 18
1
4 Simon Gregg
Saleen Mustang
198
9,100
9
4
3
3 5 5 19 15
5 Ron Johnson
Saleen Mustang
174 10,250 10
5
6
5 15 16
4 12
6 Thomas Safar II
7,300
-
8 13
9 13 8
7
8
7 Grant Carter
5,250
-
17 12 10 10 10
5
9
8 Doug Frazier
Saleen Mustang
146
4,550 11
15 14
8 14 9 10 11
9 Duane Grahovec
5,050
5
- 11 11 7
-
8
5
10 C. David Seuss
Saleen Mustang
114
4,500
8
6 19
7 6 11 12
-
1997 (Touring Two Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse STP LRP MOH WGI MIN HPT TRV MOS
1 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra
255 $22,050
2
4
3
3 4 13
6
1
2 Paul Booher
Saturn SC
250 19,200
4
19
1
4
1 3
2
5
3 Michael Galati
Acura Integra
246 16,550
3
2
2
1
5 5
3
2
4 Taz Harvey
Honda Prelude
213 11,500
5
25
9
2 3 7
4
3
5 Jim Lovett
Honda Prelude
205
9,100
7
3
7
5 12 4 13
4
6 Alain Chebeir
BMW 328is
200 10,650 10
7
5
7
7 8
1
9
7 J. van Overbeek
BMW M3
178 11,050 11
20
8
8
- 1
7 19
8 David Rosenblum Saturn SC
146
5,850 12
22
6
6 6 6
8
8
9 Lu Ryba
Oldsmobile Achieva 121
3,650
6
6 14 10 10 10 DS
-
10 Walter Puckett
Saturn SC
119
7,550
-
-
-
-
- 2
5
6
PPI REN
1
4
6
2
16 11
3
3
4
6
7 13
5
1
14 DS
- 15
2
5
1998 (Touring One Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse HPT LRP MOH MINWMI TRV RAM WGI PPI
1 Terry Borcheller
Saleen Mustang
248 $19,500
-
10
1
2 2 1
1
1
1
2 Ron Johnson
Saleen Mustang
199
9,800
2
2
2
4 7 14
4 12
7
185
9,750 15
1 15
6 1 2 14
4 18
4 Neil Hannemann
Dodge Viper
175
7,750
6
-
3
- 4 3
3
3
3
5 Bobby Archer
Dodge Viper GT5
150
8,900
-
3
-
3 12
-
2
2
2
6 Paul Brown
Mustang Cobra R 118
4,150
8
-
4 12 10
-
5 20
6
7 Reese Cox
Corvette
118
3,750
4
4 DS
- 19 6
9 11 16
8 Thomas Safar II
Corvette ZR-1
106
3,750 17 DS
- 10 3 11
-
8
4
9 David Schardt
Toyota Supra T
106
2,100 10
16 14
5 13
- 13
6
10 Jeff Conkel
Porsche 911
105
4,100
5
-
5
- 5 4
-
-
8
1998 (Touring Two Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Michael Galati
Acura Integra
2 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra
3 Lance Stewart
Acura Integra
4 Hugh Plumb
BMW 328is
5 Will Turner
BMW 328i
6 J. van Overbeek
BMW 328is
7 David Rosenblum Saturn
8 Alain Chebeir
BMW 328is
9 Walter Puckett
Saturn
10 Brad Creger
Acura Integra
1999 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Bobby Archer
2 Peter Kitchak
3 George Biskup
4 David Schardt
5 Bill Cooper
6 Reese Cox
7 Paul Brown
8 Scotty B. White
9 John Heinricy
10 Terry Lackey
R
R
R
R
Car
Points
Purse MOS LRP MOH RAT RAT TRV WMI VAN
Dodge Viper GTS 249 $86,900
1
1
2
3 23 2
8
3
Porsche 911 RSR 248 54,500 11
24
1
4 2 1
1
7
Porsche 993 RSR 216 27,650
2
3
3
6 9 15
4 15
Toyota Supra Turbo200 19,600
3
6
4 17 7 5 12
5
Chevrolet Corvette 178 16,900
4
2 20
2 3 16 20 16
Chev. Corvette C5 136 16,050 17
7 26
5 5
-
2
-
Saleen SR
124 12,400 16
19
6
8 6 14 28
2
9 19 22 10
- 13
1
8
-
-
-
-
3
-
5,900 13
23 18 26 12 8 26
4
The Records
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Michael Galati
Acura Integra R
2 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra R
3 Hugh Plumb
Acura Integra R
4 Will Turner
BMW 328is
5 Alfred duPont
BMW 328is
6 Kevin Schrantz
Acura Integra R
7 Brian Wade
BMW 328is
8 Jeff Tarr
BMW 328is
9 Rick Ellinger
Mercedes-Benz
10 Jason Potter
Honda Accord
2000 (GT Class)
s. Driver
P
1 Jeff McMillin
2 Michael Galati
3 Bobby Archer
4 Bill Cooper
5 Justin Jackson
6 Terry Borcheller
7 Peter Cunningham
8 John Heinricy
9 Reese Cox
10 David Schardt
172
Points
Purse HPT LRP MOH MINWMI TRV RAM WGI PPI
240 $13,750
2
2
2
4 8 1 13
3
2
228 15,200
1
1
3 16 11 2 12
2
1
224 15,150
5
8
8
1 1 3
1
1 15
167
8,150
9
7
1
2 14 15
4 DS
4
166
6,750
8
9
7
8
- 5
2
4
7
163 10,550
3
5
4
7 2 7 DS
-
3
150
4,950
6
11 12
9 12 11
3
9 13
139
7,150 12
6 13
3 3 6 DS
-
6
137
3,900 18
3 24 17 5 4 14 17
5
113
2,800 15
17 19 11 6
-
8 10
9
Points
Purse MOS LRP MOH RAT RAT TRV WMI VAN
265 $47,500
1
1
1
1 4 9
6
3
262 31,800
3
2
3
4 1 10
2 19
253 31,500
2
6
2
2 2 2
1
7
188 20,750
-
6
9
6 18 1
7
1
185 14,700
5
7
5
8 12 19
4
2
166 13,050
7
15
8 10 17 18
3 13
133
7,000 10
8
6 11 7 28
8 16
121
6,400 15
19 16 14 16 14 10
9
119
5,700 14
17
- 22 6 5 11
8
116
6,650
6
9 23
7
5 3
5
-
PPI LAG
4
3
1
4
5
2
3
5
18
6
6
9
17 26
dq
8
2
1
8 13
PPI LAG
5
4
3
1
8
2
2 18
4 19
6
3
16 20
18
8
9 23
-
-
Car
Points
Purse LMS MOS LRP SPT STCTMS RAT LAG LAS SAN
BMW M3
209 $70,250
8
4
6
4 5 5
2
9
8
7
Audi S4 Comp.
189 55,650
-
2
5
2 20 11
8 14
1
5
Dodge Viper GTS 173 33,700 30
1
2
6 4 6
5 12
7 25
Chev. Corvette C5 168 41,700
1
6 31
1 2 38 32
3
3 28
Porsche 993 RSR 163 20,150
4
10
8 32 6 3
4
4 20 12
Saleen SR
151 36,150
-
-
1
-
- 28
3
2
2
1
BMW M3
144 29,000
5
5
4 34 1 14 25 43
7 29
27 33
9 3 4
7 13
9
3
Chev. Corvette C5 142 15,950
2
31
3 13 14 30
9
7 17 10
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup130 16,800 14
3 28
3 12 28
-
-
5
2
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra R
2 Neal Sapp
BMW 328Ci
3 Kevin Schrantz
Acura Integra R
4 Hugh Plumb
Acura Integra R
5 Don Salama
BMW 328i
6 Alfred duPont
BMW 328is
7 Paul Alderman
BMW 328is
8 Steve Pfeffer
BMW 328is
9 Will Turner
BMW 328i
10 Mike Fitzgerald
BMW 328Ci
Points
Purse LMS MOS LRP SPT STCTMS RAT LAG LAS SAN
252 $82,920
1
1
-
2 1 11
3
2
4
3
241 49,400 13
2
2 10 2 8
2
7
3
1
202 34,960 21
6
1
6 4 2
9
6
8
5
192 49,610
2
33 25
1 28 10
5
3
1
2
181 26,130
5
9 35
3 3 1 29
9
5
7
178 30,550 22
5 13
8 29 5
4
1
2
4
155 10,100
7
14
6
9 27 4
6 17 10
9
143
7,250
-
7 12
5 7 25
8 12
7 10
138 14,880
4
4
7
7 24 23
7 11
6 29
133 21,860 30
34
3
4 6 24
1
4 29 26
2001 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse TMS SEB MOS LRP DET SPT POR LAG RAT RAT
1 Michael Galati
Audi S4 Comp.
283$132,200
1
2
3
1 4 4
1 10
1
2
271 105,600
2
1
1 23 1 8
6
1
2
1
2 Peter Cunningham Acura NSX SC
3 Johannes van OverbeekPorsche 911 Cup
222 38,900 27
3
4
8 2 1
2
2 11
6
4 Mike Fitzgerald
Porsche 911 Cup
215 26,500
4
4
2
3 8 5 11
6
6
9
5 Jeff McMillIn
BMW M3 E46
203 35,000
5
5 14 12 3 2
8
8
8
4
6 Justin Jackson
Porsche 911 Cup
190 19,350
7
12
6
7 6 7
3 13
7
5
7 Jimmy Adams
Porsche 911 Cup
185 21,000 26
7
5
2 10 9
4
3
9
8
8 Phil McClure
Corvette C5
158 15,300 12
13
8 26 5 3 16
4 14
7
9 Bob Miller
Porsche 911 Cup
149 21,800
6
8
9 22 12 10
9
5 17 1 3
10 Justin Marks
Porsche 911 Cup 146
9,800
9
9 16 15 15 13
7
7 13 1 1
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra R
2 Neal Sapp
BMW 325is
3 Steve Pfeffer
BMW 328is
4 Ken Dobson
BMW 328ci
5 Will Turner
BMW 328is
6 Don Salama
BMW 328is
7 Hugh Plumb
Acura Integra R
8 Terry McCarthy
BMW 328is
9 Roger Foo
Honda Civic Si
10 Taz Harvey
Honda Civic Si
Points
Purse TMS SEB MOS LRP DET SPT POR LAG RAT RAT
257 $60,675
4
1
1
2 1 3 15
5
3
4
216 49,900
2
23
8 25 3 1
1 10
1
1
199 28,700
1
3
4 13 38 2
8 16
4
8
197 22,800 10
13
7
9 8 13
4
2
5
3
179 22,600 29
2 29
5 4 7
3
8
8
6
178 21,000
5
5
3 11 2 9 11 12
6 3 7
172 20,850 12
4
2
8 6 4 10
6 12 2 9
146 17,000
7
8
5
3 10 DQ
5
3
-
-
134 17,675 11
11 32 41 13 6 12
1 13 1 5
121 18,100
9
25 10 32 9 5
2
7 36 3 8
2002 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse SEB MOS LRP MOHRAMWDC TRV LAG RAT VIR
1 Michael Galati
Audi S4 Comp.
272 $99,000 1
5
6
1 1 6
2
4
4
3
2 Peter Cunningham Acura NSX SC
254 $74,400 2
2
4
7 3 4
9
2
1
4
3 Randy Pobst
Porsche 911 Cup
222 $52,600 -
-
1
3DNS 1
1
1
2
2
4 John Young(R)
Saleen SR
207 $31,100
5
6
7
9 6 5
4
6 13
1
5 Jeff McMillin
BMW M3
205 $34,650 3
4
3
4 4 3 14
5 20
9
6 Johannes van OverbeekPorsche 911 Cup
199 $28,675 18
3
2
2 2 2
3 24
7 2 2
7 Derek Bell
Audi S4 Comp.
174 $15,550
7
7 11
5 7 7 12
7 16
8
8 David Farmer
Corvette ZO6
170 $20,250
9
1
8 21 8 19
8
9
9
6
9 Justin Marks
Porsche 911 Cup
148 $13,100 6
8
9
6DNS
-
5
3
6 21
Porsche 911 Cup
146 $9,900 19
11 12 14 9 10
7
8 11 1 3
10 Bob Miller
Ps. Driver
Car
1 Peter Cunningham Acura Integra R
2 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura Integra R
3 Marc Kirberg(R)
BMW 325is
4 Ken Dobson
BMW 325Ci
5 Chuck Hemmingson Mazda Protege
6 Will Turner
BMW 325i
7 Paul Bonaccorsi
Mazda Protege
8 Taz Harvey
Honda Civic Si
9 Mike Fitzgerald
Lexus IS 300
10 Shauna Marinus
Mazda Protege
Purse SEBMOS LRPMOH RAMWDC
$64,450 3
9
2 13
3
6
$66,800 1
3
1
8
2 34
$31,100 6
6
5 41
4
1
$35,900 2
1
4 48 32 17
$26,550 7 16 36
7
8
5
$34,600 9
2 45
1
6
2
$32,600 16
7
6
2
1 35
$20,600 8
5
3
3 30
9
$17,950 5
8
9
4 28
3
$16,075 41 18 39
5
5
8
TRVMOS
4
7
34
8
8 10
2
5
1
4
28
3
16
1
7
9
3
2
10 26
LAG RAT
3
1
2
2
12 13
6
7
4
4
15 32
5 16
8 25
42DNS
16
5
VIR
6
1
3
17
36
8
31
21
5
Car
Points
Purse SEB MOS LRP LRP RAT INF RAM LAG RAT PR
Audi RS 6
255 $96,600 3
3
3
2 3 15 21
3
1
1
BMW M3
231 $77,600 5
4
1
1 10 1
9
2 25
5
Corvette Z06
213 $42,350 1
1
4
6 5 5 14
-
4
3
BMW M3
194 $43,100 5 24
4 12
4
3 2 3 17
4
Porsche 911 Cup
186 $35,600 2
21
6 DNS 1 8
1
6
2DNS
BMW M3
168 $21,050 -
8
5
4 6 4 19
8
7
8
Corvette Z06
165 $13,500 11
9 12
8 9 7 10
9
6 15
Audi RS 6
163 $27,750 25
16 10 16 13 6
2 11
3
2
BMW M3
161 $30,975 23
6
2 DNS 4 2
4
5 10 18
Corvette Z06
134 $10,875 16
18
7 15 14 12
6 13 15 10
173
The Records
2003 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Randy Pobst 2 Bill Auberlen 3 Phil McClure 4 Hans Stuck 5 Mike Fitzgerald 6 Justin Marks 7 David Farmer 8 Michael Galati 9 Boris Said 10 Thomas Oates(R) Points
255
248
205
194
192
191
184
167
159
139
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
1 Bill Auberlen
BMW 325i
291
2 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura RSX-S
212
3 Will Turner
BMW 325i
170
4 Peter Cunningham Nissan SE-R
162
5 Chuck Hemmingson Mazda Protege ES 160
6 Jeff Altenburg
Mazda Protege ES 147
7 Roger Foo
Mazda Protege ES 146
8 Mike Fitzgerald
Lexus IS300
143
9 Matt Plumb(R)
BMW 325
124
10 Tim Pappas(R)
Lexus IS300
122
Purse SEB MOS LRP RAT INFMOH RAM LAG RAT PR
$88,100 1
2
4
1 1 2
3
2
4
1
$60,600 2
1
1
5 20 35
4 22
1
2
$18,100 9
4
9 15 6 6
5 11 21
9
$20,200 15
42 22
6 5 5
1 30
3
4
$24,275 7
7
7
4 32 3 33
3 18
8
$36,200 38
40 21
2 2 26
6
1
2 25
$18,550 12
8
8 7 9 11 35
7
3
$11,700 9 28 4 32 12
8 10
4
3 23
$16,750 32
- 10
7
-
5
7
6
2 31
$11,550 6
9 28 14 33 12
2
8 13 29
2004 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Tommy Archer
2 Michael Galati
3 Max Angelelli
4 Randy Pobst,
5 Andy Pilgrim
6 Phil McClure
7 Mike McCann(R)
8 Leighton Reese
Tim Wiens
10 Lou Gigliotti
Points
240
234
206
204
198
186
149
143
143
135
Purse SEB LRP MOH INF PORMOS MOS RAM RAT LAG
4
4
4
3
1
3
6
7
5
3
$87,100
3
2
1 13
9
1
7
1 12 11
$72,200
1
3
6 22 19
4
5
5
1
7
$36,000
1
2
7
2
2 21
2 13
4
$55,600 26
2
5
7
4
4
5
4 14
6 22
$23,550
5
6 31
2
3
8 19
3
4 12
$24,350
$21,300 11 20
9
8
6 12
8
9 15
8
7 25 22
5
7
6
2 15
7 28
$16,200
$16,600 10 12 28
9
5 13 10 12 10 1 0
9
5 20 14 10
3 19
3 2 7
$14,800 13
Points
251
234
214
196
188
187
174
156
143
130
Purse SEB LRP MOH INF PORMOS MOS RAM RAT LAG
1
1
4
1
2
8
3
7 12
8
$69,200
7
2
2
2
1
5
5
5 10 10
$45,600
8
5
1
4
7
2
1
8
7
$46,700
3
7 10
7
5
7
4
2 24
6
$26,400
3
3
3 24
4 23
1 22
2
$37,700 13
5
4
8
5
3 21
7 21
2
5
$24,200
2 20
5 23
8
1 29 DQ
1
4
$39,300
4
8
6 24 10 22 27
3
8
1
$43,350
6
3 10
9
6 20
$14,650 32 10 29 10
$12,350
9 28 16
6
4
9 22 10
9 21
Car
Dodge Viper
Audi RS 6
Cadillac CTS-V
Audi RS 6
Cadillac CTS-V
Corvette Z06
Dodge Viper
Corvette Z06
Dodge Viper
Corvette Z06
s. Driver
P
Car
1 Bill Auberlen
BMW 325i
2 Nic Jonsson
BMW 325Ci
3 Matt Plumb
Acura TSX
4 James Sofronas
BMW 325Ci
5 Peter Cunningham Sentra SE-R
6 Justin Marks
BMW 325i
7 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura TSX
8 Jeff Altenburg
Mazda 6
9 Bob Stretch
BMW 325Ci
10 Dino Crescentini(R) BMW 325i
2005 (GT Class)
Ps. Driver
1 Andy Pilgrim
2 Tommy Archer
3 Robin Liddell
4 Wolf Henzler
5 Max Papis
6 Leighton Reese
7 Stu Hayner
8 Tony Gaples
9 Lou Gigliotti
10 Tim Wiens
Car
Points
Purse
Cadillac CTS-V
248 $27,080
Dodge Viper
242$55,100
Porsche 911 Cup 214$27,700
Porsche 911 Cup 210$31,340
Cadillac CTS-V
188$25,230
Corvette C6
166$16,390
Pontiac GTO
158$12,400
Corvette C6
154$13,180
Corvette C6
150$20,740
Dodge Viper
143$13,970
SEB
2
1
3
4
5
8
29
25
27
9
STP
4
1
2
5
13
24
18
12
3
7
RATMOH
2
5
4
6
15 13
22
1
1
3
5 24
11
9
10
8
23
4
12 25
CLE LRP INF POR DEN MOS
3
6
8 10
4
4
12
9
3
4
6
6
1
8
5
9
2 11
31
5
7
3
1 12
18
2 21
8 22 16
4
- 19
2
5
8
5
4 10
6
9
5
9 10
2 13 12 20
26
7
1
- 19
2
11 12 17
7 10 19
LAG
4
3
24
22
1
7
9
23
6
The Records
Ps. Driver
Car
Points
Purse SEB STP RAT MOH CLE LRP INF POR DEN MOS LAG
263 $69,970
1
3
3
3
3
6
9
8 10
2
3
1 Peter Cunningham Acura TSX
2 Randy Pobst
Mazda 6
248 $81,300 25
1
9
8 10
2
2
1
7
5
4
3 Pierre Kleinubing Acura TSX
243 $72,760 24
2
1
1
1
5
6 16
8
3
6
4 Brandon Davis
Acura TSX
202 $33,810 11 11 10
6
6 10
7
5
6 14
5
5 Eric Curran
Acura RSX
199 $49,200
7
8
6
5
7
3 12
2
1 22 34
6 Jeff Altenburg
Mazda 6
196 $51,900
3
5
2
4
5
7 26 12
2 15 19
7 Charles Espenlaub Mazda 6
193 $52,660 31
6
4
7
2 27 10 17
3
1 11
8 Matt Richmond
BMW 325i
177 $16,920
9
4
7 19
8 15
5
3 12
7 33
9 Seth Thomas
BMW 325i
159 $13,440 10 25
8 10
4 28
8
7 13
6 10
10 James Clay
BMW 325i
151 $13,360
5
7 26
9 12
8
4 20 11
4 37
2006 (GT Class)
Car
Points
Purse SEB STP LBCMOH INFMMP RAMMOS RAT LAG
Ps. Driver
1 Lawson Aschenbach(R) Porsche 911 GT3
231 $68,000 5
1
8
2
8
8
2
6
5
9
2 Lou Gigliotti
Corvette C6
225 $43,950 23
4
4
1 10
1 14
9
6
7
3 Andy Pilgrim
Cadillac CTS-V
225 $33,200 2
8
7
5
3
3
7 21
1
8
4 Ricardo Imery(R)
Porsche 911 GT3
218 $32,500 8
3 23
6
1
2
6
8
7
2
5 Tommy Archer
Dodge Viper
206 $64,500 25 23
2
4
2 20
1
2
2
6
6 Mike McCann
Dodge Viper
183 $34,600 1 17
3 23
5
5
4 19
9
4
7 Bob Woodhouse
Dodge Viper
178 $25,900 3
5 11 10
7
6 10
5
4 30
8 James Sofronas
Porsche 911 GT3
156 $13,400 4
6
5 25
6 12 27
4 17
5
9 Rob Foster(R)
Dodge Viper
155 $17,700 9
7
6
7 22
7 12 10 10 11
10 Ron Fellows
Cadillac CTS-V
116 $18,100 -
-
1
-
-
4 20
3
3
174
Car
Ps. Driver
1 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura TSX
2 Randy Pobst
Mazda 6
Audi A4
3 Chip Herr
5 Eric Curran
Acura RSX
6 Brandon Davis
Acura TSX
7 Jeff Altenburg
Mazda 6
8 Charles Espenlaub Mazda 6
9 Nick Esayian
Acura RSX
10 Jeff Courtney(R)
Audi A4
Points
286
267
232
228
221
209
208
154
145
140
Purse SEB STP MOH
$94,200 3
3
2
$80,950 2
1
5
$31,800 10
4
1
$51,275 5
2
6
$54,500 11
32
9
$48,800 9
8
7
$49,200 4
27
3
$32,800 DQ
5 27
$25,500 7
10
8
$11,500 17
7
4
INFMMPDEN RAMMOS RAT LAG
1
1
3
8
3
4
4
4
2
8
4
7
1 13
12 11 21
1
1
2
5
2 18
7
7
4
8
3
5
3
2
5
5
3
1
6
6
1 10
2
5 11
3
4
4
6 10
7
2
24
5
5
2 22
6
6
10
8 11 20 13 14
8
13 12 12 11
9 10 25
2007 (GT Class)
PS. Driver
Car
Points
1 Randy Pobst
Porsche 911 GT-3 303
Cadillac CTS-V
287
2 Andy Pilgrim
280
3 Lawson Aschenbach Cadillac CTS-V
Porsche 911 GT-3 269
4 Michael Galati
5 Eric Curran
6 Lou Gigliotti
7 Jeff Courtney
Dodge Viper
151
8 Tommy Archer
Dodge Viper
143
9 Doug Peterson
10 Rob Foster(T)
Purse SEB LBC MMPLMS WGI TOR MOHMOS RAT LAG
$35,900 7
6
4
3
1
1
2 17
3
2
$30,700 2 11
1
4
4
6
4
4
7
1
$32,000 2
11
6
2
2
6
3
2
1
6
$20,650 4
4
5 14
5 3
5
3
4
3
$33,800 1
1 26 19 23
7
1
1 18 28
$13,900 28
3
2 15
3
9 11
6 26
$8,975 11
13 10
5 15 11 13
9
6 18
$14,400 8
7
-
-
1 11
6
5 DSQ
$9,500 23
3 13 12
-
8
8 10
7
$8,200 16
5
7
4 14 12 15 22 12 23
Car
PS. Driver
1 Jeff Altenburg
MAZDA6
2 Randy Pobst
MAZDA6
3 Kuno Wittmer
Acura RSX
4 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura TSX
6 Chip Herr
Audi A4
7 James Sofronas(T) BMW 325Ci
8 Michael Galati
MAZDA6
9 Charles Espenlaub MAZDA6
10 Brandon Davis
Acura TSX
Purse SEB MMP LRPWGI1WGI2 TOR MOH MOS RAT
$71,450 1
1
3
5
3
6
3
6 10
$67,700 2
2 11
1
1
4 21
5 15
4
5 10
4
4
$46,100 7
7 20
4
$48,075 3
3 18
2 21
3
5
3
5
$54,100 5
7
5
7 15
1
6 10 17
$17,575 4
18
1 10
9 17
2
2 12
$23,050 13
6
2
6
2
8
4
9 11
9
4
8
7 15 11
1
$36,050 11
24
$28,375 6
8
6
3
5 18
8 21 14
$20,550 8
10 14 11 11 13 11 15
9
2008 (GT Class)
PS. DRIVER
1 Randy Pobst
2 Andy Pilgrim
3 Brandon Davis
4 James Sofronas
5 Michael Galati
6 Jason Daskalos
7 Michael McCann
8 Jeff Courtney
9 Tony Gaples
10 Eric Curran
Points
277
259
230
225
220
210
205
174
161
153
CAR
PTS.
Porsche 911 GT3
983
Cadillac CTS-V
907
Ford Mustang Cobra831
Porsche 911 GT3
750
Porsche 911 GT3
733
Dodge Viper
629
Cadillac CTS-V
620
Dodge Viper
618
PTS.
939
934
930
885
770
711
693
685
626
559
4
6
2
13
1
21
16
14
3
PURSE SEB LBC MMPWGIMOHRAM MOS DET NJM RAT
$65,700 1
2
4
1
6
3
2
1
7
5
$38,400 2
3
3
2
3 22
6
2
3
3
$39,800 4
1
2 21
2 23 23
3
2
1
$25,250 9
5
9
6
8
4 15
6
1
7
$21,050 3
4 14
3
5 15
3
5
9 14
$13,300 8
6
8 12 26 13 17
7
4
6
$12,700 12
15 10
5
9
6
5
4 20 22
$12,400 5
10
6 13 15
8
7 11
6 24
$10,350 6
14 12 11 10 11
8 17
8 13
$17,475 26
25 30
4 29
2
1 19 18
4
PURSE SEB VIR MMPLRP1LRP2WGI MOH RAM MOS RAT
$69,900 3
6
4
5
2
2
2
5
3
4
$77,450 1
7
2
2
3
3 19
2
6
3
$84,300 2
1
3
1
5
9
1 10
4
5
$66,100 13
5
8
3
1
5
7
4
5
1
$49,700 9
11
1
6 13 10
4
3
2 16
$51,100 11
12 17 15 17
1
5 16
1
2
$17,050 6
2
7 10
4 14
6
7 12 14
$31,375 4
4
5 12 10
4 18 11 10
8
$20,000 10
3 16
7 16 12 11
1 13 15
$19,650 14
15 12 11 11
8 12 13
8 11
175
The Records
PS. DRIVER
CAR
2 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura TSX
3 Kuno Wittmer
Acura TSX
MAZDA6
4 Chip Herr
5 Jason Saini(R)
MAZDA6
6 Michael Galati
MAZDA6
7 Seth Thomas
BMW 325i
8 Charles Espenlaub MAZDA6
9 James Clay
BMW 325i
10 Charlie Putman
MAZDA6
LAG
2009 (GT Class)
PS. DRIVER
1 Brandon Davis
2 James Sofronas
3 Tony Rivera
4 Andy Pilgrim
5 Eric Curran
6 Randy Pobst
7 Tony Gaples
8 Sonny Whelen
9 Dino Crescentini
10 Bill Ziegler (R)
CAR
PTS
Ford Mustang GT 1012
Porsche 911 GT3
931
Porsche 911 GT3
910
Volvo S60
851
Volvo S60
776
Porsche 911 GT3
558
Porsche 911 GT3
552
PTS
973
960
921
878
847
803
769
767
758
328
PURSE SEB
$81,600
2
$66,700
3
$75,400
9
$37,400
1
$38,400 12
$42,700 13
$28,200
4
$18,400
6
$18,100
5
$13,100
-
NJMOS1MOS2WGI AUB MOH RAM RAT LAG
5
2
5
6
3
3
1 10
1
1
4
3
8
1
1
4
8
8
2
5
1
5
2
2
6
6
2
14 10
4
1 11
4
8
1
7
11
7
2
2
4
8
2
9
6
4
1
6
7
8
7 10
4 18
6
6
9 11
6
9
5
5 12
7
9 11
9
5 12
7
2
3
9 11
8
4
7
6 11
3
4
-
-
-
-
-
5
3
7 10
The Records
CAR
PS. DRIVER
1 Pierre Kleinubing
Acura TSX
2 Jason Saini
Mazda6
4 Seth Thomas
BMW 328i
5 Charles Espenlaub Mazda6
6 Kuno Wittmer
Acura TSX
7 Eric Foss (R) Mazda3
8 James Clay
BMW 328i
9 Nick Esayian
BMW 328i
10 Patrick Lindsey
Mazda6
PURSE SEB LBC NJMOS WGI AUB MOH RAM RAT LAG
$32,300
3
3
3
2
8
2
1
4
3
4
$28,300
5
1
6
9
3
6
3 15
5
1
$30,200
1
7
5
3
7
5
2
1
4 17
$24,600 12
6
1
4
5
4
1 16
1
5
$25,100
2
2 DSQ
5
2 17 16
2
2
3
$21,900 DNS
8
2
8
4
1
4
6 19
2
$8,600
4
9
7 12
- 19
8 10
8 10
$6,800 11
22
8
7 10 11 10
9 18
9
$14,600 17 DNS
-
6
1 15
5
3
9 18
$5,650
8
12 11 13 11 10 11 11 12 19
176
nSunoco – Trusted by more race teams for
reliability, dependability and consistency
nSunoco – Offical Fuel of Over 40 Race
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CONGRATULATIONS
PIERRE KLEINUBING
2009 WC TOURING CAR CHAMPION
CONGRATULATIONS
BRANDON DAVIS
2009 WC GT CHAMPION
WE’VE SIMPLY CHAMPIONED
A BETTER TIRE.
TOYO PROXES R888.
Whether you’re a pro racer, weekend warrior or somewhere in between, you just can’t top Toyo Proxes high performance tires.
Their state-of-the-art technology delivers maximum grip, incredible dry and wet traction, and increased cornering force
for optimal handling. Try a set today. Because winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.
Proxes R888™
Proxes R1R™
Proxes RA1™
Toyo reminds you to drive responsibly. Never operate a vehicle in an unsafe or unlawful manner. · Find your nearest dealer at toyotires.com or call (800) 953-8696.

2010 media guide - SCCA Pro Racing

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