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Liddell Puts Porsche On Top Early in SCCA SPEED GT at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2005) - Robin Liddell, of Edinburgh, Scotland, paced early-morning practice Friday during the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT portion of the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, taking the top spot with a 1:31.492 (88.060 mph) in the No. 66 AXA Financial/PFAFF Porsche 911 Cup.

Cadillac, which trails Porsche 57-54 in the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER Magazine, was second in practice as Max "The Ax" Angelelli, of Monte Carlo, turned a time of 1:31.679 in the No. 12 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V. Defending SPEED GT Drivers' Champion Tommy Archer, of Duluth, Minn., was third with a 1:31.686 in his No. 1 c3controls/3R-Racing Dodge Viper.

The first practice was bathed in perfect conditions as sunny skies warmed temperatures into the 60s by the session's start and winds never raised above calm.

Taking advantage of the pristine setting, Liddell nailed down his time on the 2.238-mile, 11-turn track on his third lap. Though most of the field, including Liddell, ran nine or 10 laps in all, no one was able to catch him.

Cadillac's "Mad" Max Papis, of Miami, Fla., was fourth (1:31.689), and Mike McCann, of North Canton, Ohio, was fifth (1:31.725).

The second and final practice session is scheduled for 5:25 p.m. Friday. Qualifying for is set for Saturday at 9:55 a.m., and the final round race is \on tap for 2 p.m. Sunday, live on SPEED Channel. All times are Pacific.

To follow all SCCA SPEED World Challenge action from the Monterey Sports Car Championships live via timing and scoring, visit www.world-challenge.com 

MONTEREY, Calif. - First practice session times for this weekend's SCCA Pro 
Racing SPEED World Challenge GT season finale, part of the Monterey Sports 
Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with position, car number 
in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles
per hour.


1, (66), Robin Liddell, Edinburgh, Scotland, Porsche 911 Cup, 1:31.492, 88.060.

2, (12), Max Angelelli, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Cadillac CTS-V, 1:31.679, 87.880.

3, (1), Tommy Archer, Duluth, Minn., Dodge Viper, 1:31.686, 87.873.

4, (16), Max Papis, Miami, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V, 1:31.689, 87.871.

5, (82), Mike McCann, N. Canton, Ohio, Dodge Viper, 1:31.725, 87.836.

6, (55), Wolf Henzler, Nürtingen, Germany, Porsche 911 Cup, 1:31.810, 87.755.

7, (28), Lou Gigliotti, Dallas, Texas, Corvette C6, 1:32.134, 87.446.

8, (14), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:32.499, 87.101.

9, (27), Dino Crescentini, Malibu, Calif., Corvette C6, 1:32.570, 87.034.

10, (07), Lawson Ashenbach, Gathersburg, Md., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:32.594, 87.012.

11, (13), Bob Woodhouse, Blair, Neb., Dodge Viper, 1:32.653, 86.956.

12, (8), Andy Pilgrim, Del Ray Beach, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V, 1:32.803, 86.816.

13, (6), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., Corvette C6, 1:32.991, 86.640.

14, (56), Ritch Marziale, Tempe, Ariz., Dodge Viper, 1:33.161, 86.482.

15, (83), Jim McCann, N. Canton, Ohio, Dodge Viper, 1:33.210, 86.437.

16, (3), Tim Wiens, Westminster, Colo., Dodge Viper, 1:33.237, 86.412.

17, (30), Mike Davis, Huntington Beach, Calif., Saleen SR, 1:33.270, 86.381.

18, (31), Sonny Whelen(R), Old Saybrook, Conn., Corvette Z06, 1:33.410, 86.252.

19, (96), Skip Sauls(R), Longmont, Colo., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:35.149, 84.675.

20, (77), Brett Pearson(R), Orlando, Fla., Dodge Viper, 1:35.760, 84.135.

21, (15), John Dearing(R), Mission Viejo, Calif., Dodge Viper GTS, 1:36.457, 83.527.

22, (29), Kevin Chambers, Menlo Park, Calif., Corvette C5, 1:37.119, 82.958.

23, (00), Al Becera(R), San Jose, Calif., Dodge Viper, 1:37.330, 82.778.

24, (40), Greg Weirick(R), Malibu, Calif., Corvette C5, 1:37.377, 82.738.

25, (34), Tony Gaples, Libertyville, Ill., Corvette C6, 1:37.483, 82.648.

26, (11), Jonathan Martinez(R), Bakersfield, Calif., Dodge Viper GTS, 1:37.644, 82.512.

27, (10), Carol Hollfelder, Covina, Calif., Ford Mustang, 1:38.637, 81.681.

28, (42), Mark LoPilato(R), Granbury, Texas, Porsche 911 T, no time.

29, (54), Michael Judy, Fresno, Calif., Ford Mustang, no time.