Pro Racing - Ave Leads Trans-Am Practice 2 At Mosport

BOWMANVILLE, May 21, 2011: Tony Ave, of Maiden, N.C., continued his stranglehold on the top of the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series time charts in practice on Saturday at Mosport International Raceway but his competitors closed the gap somewhat from Friday to Saturday.

Driving the No. 4 Lamers Racing/Beebe Racing/Optech/PME Chevrolet Corvette, Ave clocked a best lap at 1:17.216 (114.644 mph) to lead the 30-minute session by slightly less than two seconds over Blaise Csida, of Stouffville, Ontario, Canada. Ave pointed out after the session that he used the session to work on his race setup. While the defending series champion still led somewhat comfortably, he’s taking nothing for granted and has identified a few drivers who could be tough to beat in Sunday’s race.

“For sure Blaise, he was on the podium last year and he actually ended up finishing in front of me,” Ave said. “Last year, we had a few issues, but he’s really good here. Amy (Ruman) is going to be really fast. She’s never been here before, so she’s learning the track, but by the time the race is halfway over, she’ll have that figured out. Simon (Gregg) is solid as a rock. His cars never break down. Those three at the moment are who I think we’re going to have to worry about.

“I’ve been here a lot and everybody knows I focus on one-lap runs a lot for, sort of, fun. A hundred miles in one of these things, a million things can happen. We’re still developing, because our main championship contenders didn’t make the trip. We’re still working on our car and trying things that are a little experimental, knowing that we have a cushion. If we don’t finish, we’ll still be – probably -- in the points lead, so we’re trying a few things that may not work.”

Local favorite Csida posted a best lap at 1:19.133 (111.867 mph) in the No. 07 Gateway Racing Inc. Chevrolet Corvette to take second in the session. Csida earned his first career Trans-Am podium with a third-place run last year at Mosport and would love to improve upon that this weekend.

Gregg, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., also dipped under the 1:20 mark and was third quickest on Saturday in the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette at 1:19.571 (111.251 mph). Gregg wound up one spot ahead of Csida’s teammate, Elmer Shannon, of San Francisco, Calif., in the No. 27 Spectra Holdings/Gateway Racing/Eatmon Racing Engines Chevrolet Corvette. Shannon’s best lap was a 1:20.610 (109.817 mph).

Fresh from his first podium result of the season last weekend at VIR, 2009 Trans-Am Rookie of the Year Daniel Ramoutarsingh, of La Romain, Trinidad, was fifth in the No. 18 Trinrico Steel & Wire Products Jaguar XKR. Ramoutarsingh posted a best lap at 1:21.457. Bob Stretch, of Arlington, Texas, again led the Trans-Am 2 (TA2) practice session at 1:27.331 (101.366 mph) in the No. 98 Wheels America Racing Chevrolet Camaro.