SCCA: Kleinubing makes epic comeback to take Mosport Touring Car win

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 21, 2001

CANADA (May 19, 2001) - Polesitter Pierre Kleinubing came back from an off at the start to win his second-straight SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge Touring Car Championship Race at Mosport International Raceway, part of the Victoria Day Weekend. Teammate Hugh Plumb, of Chadds Ford, Pa., and Don Salama, of Avon, Conn., completed the top-three.

Driving the No. 1 RealTime Racing Acura Integra Type R, Kleinubing slid wide in Mosport's fast turn two on the first lap, dropping to 14th, but waged an epic assault on the field, slicing into the top-five on lap 10 and into second on lap 14.

Kleinubing mirrored Plumb, who took the lead from Steve Pfeffer on lap six, for the next 13 laps, turning the fastest laps of the race. On the final lap, Kleinubing tapped Plumb going into the second to last turn, getting him loose enough for the Brazilian to sneak past as they headed to the final corner. Kleinubing sped on to a 0.411-second win, averaging 91.574 mph.

"Hugh [Plumb] was really blocking hard, and he didn't have a good line going into nine," said Kleinubing, who took the points lead with his second-straight win. "We barely nudged, and I got past.

"When I went off the track at the start, I had a lot of doubt as to whether or not I could get back. I just put my head down and drove hard. The car was great and the tires held up really well."

Plumb led a train of BMWs for several laps, before Pfeffer and Salama began to battle for the second spot in the middle of the race. From there, it looked to be smooth sailing for the four-time World Challenge race winner, but his teammate made up the considerable ground and began to apply pressure.

"I drove the car hard because I knew he was coming," said a disappointed Plumb. "I was driving defensively, and I got hit. It put me into a tank-slapper. I just got hit."

Driving the No. 94 Large Inc./H&R Springs BMW 328i, Salama came out on top of a race-long battle with Pfeffer, who came into the race weekend the point leader.

"About mid-race, the tires began to go off and the car began to push," said Salama, who earned his first podium finish of 2001. "My car was really equal with Steve's [Pfeffer], but I was able to get a good run on him on the back straight. We really didn't have much for the Acuras today. I think Pierre proved that, the way he came through the field."

Kleinubing's run through the field was not without controversy, with contact also being made with the Honda Civic Si of Roger Foo, who spun into the wall in turn four. Foo was uninjured in the accident.

Pfeffer came home fourth, dropping six points behind Kleinubing in the Championship, followed by Terry McCarthy, of Mountain View, Calif.

Alfred duPont, of Kennett Square, Pa., moved up from his 16th starting spot after changing a motor following qualifying to finish sixth, earning the Borla Performance Award for the drive of the day.

Paul Bonaccorsi, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was transported to Oshawa General hospital for x-rays after a last-lap crash in his Mazda Protégé on the front straightaway. Initial reports indicated that Bonaccorsi sustained a fractured wrist, possible fractured left foot and bruising to his torso.

Text provided by Eric Prill

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