MEDIA ADVISORY - SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships at Mosport

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships

SCCA SPEED GT Round Eight

SCCA SPEED Touring Car Round Eight

Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport

Mosport International Raceway, Bowmanville, Ont., Canada

 

Contact: Eric Prill, VP Marketing & Communications, (785) 250-7920, eprill@scca.com  

Erin Cechal, PR Specialist, (785) 608-9522, ecechal@scca.com

Note: Cell service poor at this facility

 

Event/Circuit: Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport

Mosport International Raceway

                      10-turn, 2.459-mile (3.95 km) road course

 

Qualifying:     SPEED Touring Car: Saturday, August 25, 11:20 a.m. (EDT)

                     SPEED GT: Saturday, August 25, 11:45 a.m. (EDT) 

 

Green Light:    SPEED GT: Saturday, August 25, 6:35 p.m. (EDT)

(standing start)  SPEED Touring Car: Sunday, August 26, 11:15 a.m. (EDT)

          

Race Length:   SPEED Touring Car: 27 laps or 50 minutes (whichever comes first)

                      SPEED GT: 29 laps or 50 minutes (whichever comes first)

                      

Television:   SPEED Touring Car: Saturday, September 1, 1:00 p.m. (EDT)

(on SPEED)    SPEED GT:  Saturday, September 1, 2:00 p.m. (EDT)

 

 

Media Notes:   Results are available on the AP SportsWire, via e-mail and on the Internet (www.world-challenge.com <http://www.world-challenge.com/> ).

 

Timing/Scoring:  Live Timing & Scoring and lap notes via the SCCA® Pit Board are available for all sessions through www.world-challenge.com <http://www.world-challenge.com/> . 

 

 

TRACK RECORDS:

 

Touring Car:    Qualifying Lap:  1:29.688 (98.702 mph), Peter Cunningham, Nissan Sentra SE-R, 2004

                       Race Lap: 1:29.684 (98.706 mph), Charles Espenlaub, Mazda 6, 2005

                       Average Speed:  92.715 mph, Pierre Kleinubing, 2000

Closest Margin of Victory:  0.318-second, Pierre Kleinubing over Bill Auberlen, 2003

 

 

GT:                  Qualifying Lap:  1:22.256 (107.620 mph), Leighton Reese, Chevrolet Corvette, 2005

                       Race Lap:  1:24.496 (104.767 mph), Ron Fellows, Cadillac CTS-V, 2004

                       Average Speed:  102.782 mph, Ron Fellows, 2004

                       Closest Margin of Victory:  0.244-second, David Farmer over Peter Cunningham, 2002

 

FORMER WINNERS

 

Touring Car:           1990:          Peter Cunningham, Ron Lauzon, Randy Pobst, Honda CRX Si (Super Production Class)

                              1991:          Mitch Wright, Bobby Archer, Tommy Archer, Eagle Talon (Super Production Class)

                              1992:          Taz Harvey, Ron Lauzon, Jim Dentici, Honda Prelude (C Class)

                              1993:          Ron Emmick, Oldsmobile Achieva (C Class)

                              1994:          Ron Emmick, Oldsmobile Achieva (C Class)

                              1995:          Dave Jolly, Oldsmobile Achieva (Super Production Class)

                              1996:          Charlie Downes, BMW M3 (T2 Class)

                              1997:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R (T2 Class)

                              1999:          Michael Galati, Acura Integra R

                              2000:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R

                              2001:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R

2002:          Ken Dobson, BMW 328Ci (Race 1)

                                                Paul Bonnacorsi, Mazda Protégé (Race 2)

                              2003:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura RSX

                              2004:          Matt Plumb, Acura TSX

                              2005:          Charles Espenlaub, Mazda 6

                              2006:          Chip Herr, Audi A4

 

GT:                         1990:          Andy Pilgrim, John Heinricy, Don Knowles, Stu Hayner, Chevrolet Corvette (WC Class)

                              1991:          RK Smith, Ken Wallace, Ken Wilden, Richard Spenard, David Empringham, Tommy Clark, Peter Cunningham, Chevrolet Corvette (WC Class)

                              1992:          Kim Baker, Ray Kong, Peter Hanson, Jim Minneker, Don Knowles, Chevrolet Corvette (A Class)

                              1993:          Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Nissan 300ZX (A Class)

                              1994:          Richard Spenard, Chevrolet Camaro (A Class)

                              1995:          David Murry, Porsche 911 Turbo (S Class)

                              1996:          Kermit Upton, BMW M3, (T1 Class)

                              1997:          Rob Fellows, Saleen Mustang (T1 Class)

                              1999:          Bobby Archer, Dodge Viper GTS

                              2000:          Bobby Archer, Dodge Viper GTS

                              2001:          Peter Cunningham, Acura NSX SC

                              2002:          David Farmer, Chevrolet Corvette C5

                              2003:          Phil McClure, Chevrolet Corvette C5

                              2004:          Michael Galati, Audi RS 6 (Race 1)

                                                Ron Fellows, Cadillac CTS-V (Race 2)

                              2005:          Ron Fellows, Cadillac CTS-V

                              2006:          Michael Galati, Volvo S60R

 

Other Classes         1991:          Lou Gigliotti, Leighton Reese, Brad Hoyt, Mark Behm, John Petrick, Chevrolet Camaro (SS Class)

                              1992:          Chris Neville, Doug Goad, David Murry, Chevrolet Camaro (B Class)

                                                Bill Saunders, Beaver Theodosakis, Mitch Wright, Andy Pilgrim, Neil Hannemann, Eagle Talon (D Class)

                              1993:          Neil Hannemann, Eagle Talon (B Class)

                              1994:          Bill Cooper, Chevrolet Camaro (B Class)

                              1995:          Lou Gigliotti, Chevrolet Camaro (T Class)

                              1996:          Almo Coppelli, Callaway Corvette (S Class)

 

POLE WINNERS:

 

Touring Car:           1990:          NA (Super Production Class)

                              1991:          NA(Super Production Class)

                              1992:          NA (C Class)

                              1993:          Ron Emmick, Oldsmobile Achieva (C Class)

                              1994:          Ron Emmick, Oldsmobile Achieva (C Class)

                              1995:          Bill Topping, VW Jetta (Super Production Class)

                              1996:          Ron Louzon, Honda Prelude (T2 Class)

                              1997:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R (T2 Class)

                              1999:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R

                              2000:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R

                              2001:          Pierre Kleinubing, Acura Integra R

2002:          Scott Bradley, Mazda Protégé ES (Race 1)

                                                Will Turner, BMW 325i (Race 2)

                              2003:          Mike Fitzgerald, Lexus IS300

                              2004:          Peter Cunningham, Nissan Sentra SE-R

                              2005:          Brandon Davis, Acura TSX

                              2006:          Chip Herr, Audi A4

 

GT:                         1990:          Scott Lagasse, Lotus Esprit Turbo (WC Class)

                              1991:          Mark Wolocatiuk, Chevrolet Corvette (WC Class)

                              1992:          R.K. Smith, Chevrolet Corvette (A Class)

                              1993:          Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Nissan 300ZX (A Class)

                              1994:          Richard Spenard, Chevrolet Camaro (A Class)

                              1995:          David Murry, Porsche 911 Turbo (S Class)

                              1996:          Lou Gigliotti, Saleen Mustang (T1 Class)

                              1997:          Rob Fellows, Saleen Mustang (T1 Class)

                              1999:          Bill Cooper, Chevrolet Corvette

                              2000:          Peter Cunningham, BMW M3

                              2001:          Peter Cunningham, Acura NSX SC

                              2002:          Michael Galati, Audi S4 Competition

                              2003:          Bill Auberlen, BMW M3

                              2004:          Max Angelelli, Cadillac CTS-V (Race 1)

                                                Ron Fellows, Cadillac CTS-V (Race 2)

                              2005:          Leighton Reese, Corvette C6

                              2006:          Ron Fellows, Cadillac CTS-V

 

 

THE MOST RELEVANT ROAD RACING IN THE WORLD

Now in its 18th consecutive year, SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge has built its legacy around providing fans the most competitive road racing in the world, and the series has earned well-deserved praise the past few years from publications such as Car & Driver and RACER Magazine for doing just that. But what really sets SPEED World Challenge GT and Touring Car apart from all other series is the "everyday" element it brings each event.  World-class drivers piloting production-based cars that come from more than 15 auto manufacturers - it's a formula that has and will continue to serve the interests of manufacturers, drivers and, most importantly, automotive enthusiasts and race fans.

SPEED World Challenge - this is how racing should be

 

GOOD OL'MOSPORT

Mosport International Raceway is a staple on the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge calendar. This weekend marks the 17th World Challenge event at Mosport, making it the most-visited circuit for SCCA SPEED World Challenge. Car-crazy Mosport fans can expect all the same high-speed, wheel-to-wheel racing this weekend that has kept them on their feet and cheering in seasons' past.

 

SCCA SPEED GT

In last year's SCCA SPEED GT race, Michael Galati was in a class by himself, nearly lapping the entire field in his At Speed Volvo S60R, as he splashed through the rain. The win was the first for Volvo in SPEED World Challenge and the most recent for Galati, who returns to Mosport this year, but at the helm of the No. 23 K-PAX/Jim Haughey LLC Porsche 911 GT3. Rain or no, he will be a favorite this weekend with three World Challenge victories at Mosport on his record. His teammate, Randy Pobst (No. 22 K-PAX/Jim Haughey LLC), is the current point leader after four podium finishes in-a-row, including wins at Watkins Glen and Toronto. Pobst won at Mosport in his first World Challenge start in 1990, but has yet to win again.

 

Nipping at Pobst's heals in the Drivers' Championship are Cadillac CTS-V drivers Andy Pilgrim and Lawson Aschenbach. Like Pobst, Pilgrim (No. 8 XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V) was a class winner in the very first World Challenge race at Mosport and has had six more starts here since. By contrast, Aschenbach's race here last year was his first and was at the wheel of a Porsche. This year will be his first race at Mosport in the No. 1 XM/Mobil1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V. Rest assured he'll have some sage advice at his disposal from Pilgrim and the Mayor of Mosport himself, Ron Fellows (No. 16 XM/Mobil1/Motorola/Bose Cadillac CTS-V). In addition to his Trans-Am and ALMS success here, Fellows has won twice in four World Challenge starts.  He's already scored a pole in his first start of the season at Long Beach and finished on the podium at Toronto, who knows what kind of magic he'll cook up this weekend?

 

After winning the first two races in his No. 30 Whelen Engineering Corvette, Eric Curran hit a string of three DNFs. A seventh-place finish at Toronto was the light at the end of the tunnel and a win at Mid-Ohio was a sign that Curran could be picking up where he left off at Long Beach. Another Corvette hoping to return to the winner's circle is the No. 28 LG Pro Long Tube Headers Corvette of Lou Gigliotti, who's won at Mosport twice, 1995 being the most recent. He's made it to the podium three times so far this season, but is searching for his first win since Mid-Ohio in 2006.

 

Michal McCann's (No. 82 McCann Plastics/K&N Filters Dodge Viper) season has gotten back on track at Mid-Ohio where he finished sixth. Although Mosport has been unkind to him the past two years, McCann did finish eighth here in his first SPEED World Challenge race at Mosport. 

 

A tight Piloti SCCA SPEED GT Rookie of the Year contest had developed between Jeffrey Robbins (No. 6 RSIG Security Dodge Viper), Dane Moxlow (No. 20 Deronda USA Pontiac GTO) and Brian Kubinski (No. 12 Diamond Construction/Blackdog Chevrolet Corvette). Each piloting rival machines, the trio have three more rounds to determine who will take home the award at the end of the year.

 

Other drivers to watch include Rob Foster (Chevrolet Corvette), Doug Peterson (Chevrolet Corvette) and the Dodge Vipers of Cindi Lux and Scotty B. White.

 

SCCA SPEED TOURING CAR

The SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship is getting tighter with each race. Tri-Point Motorsports teammates Jeff Altenburg (No. 72 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6) and Randy Pobst (No. 73 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6) continue to lead in their Mazda 6s, but which one is in the lead seems to change with every round. The pair have quite different histories at Mosport; while Altenburg has yet to earn a podium finish, Pobst has done so four times.

 

James Sofronas is on course to his best SCCA SPEED Touring Car season ever. Sitting third in the points, Sofronas (No. 29 Tecmark Autosport/GMG BMW 325Ci) has finished runner-up at both Lime Rock Park and Watkins Glen, two classic, high-speed road courses like Mosport. Last year Sofronas finished fourth here in GT, which equaled his best Mosport SCCA SPEED Touring Car finish from 2004.

 

The RealTime Racing Acuras are always a force to be reckoned with at Mosport. Defending Champion Pierre Kleinubing (No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSX) enters the weekend fourth in the Championship. Kleinubing (Acura TSX) has more wins at Mosport than any other World Challenge driver entered this weekend, with four. Kleinubing has also started on pole at Mosport four times and in 10 starts at the circuit, has only twice missed the podium.  His teammate Peter Cunningham (No. 42 Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSX) trumps Kleinubing on starts however, with 16. Also keep your eyes on the No. 44 Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura RSX of Canadian Kuno Wittmer. Racing on home soil has proven to be a catalyst for Wittmer who scored his first series pole at Toronto in July and has captured victory at Mosport before in the Motorola Cup and Honda/Michelin series. Brandon Davis is a fourth RealTime driver with success at Mosport, having earned his first-career series pole here in 2005.

 

Last year's Mosport winner Chip Herr returns in the No. 17 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff Audi A4. He's already won at Lime Rock this year and appeared to be on his way to win number two at Mid-Ohio before a mistake in the Keyhole cost him the win. Herr's teammate Ian Baas, in the No. 18 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff Audi A4, is quickly earning the title of "comeback kid." In the last two rounds, Baas has picked up more than a dozen spots in the race. Both Herr and Baas will be the ones to watch on the standing start with the Audi's famous launch abilities.

 

Joey Hand (No. 37 Bimmerworld BMW 325i) is a new star shining on the SCCA SPEED Touring Car circuit. The most recent race winner, Hand was unstoppable in his charge to the front at Mid-Ohio to get his and BimmerWorld's first World Challenge victory. All eyes will be on Hand this weekend to see if he can pull a repeat performance.

 

Other SCCA SPEED Touring Car Drivers who are bound to put in a strong showing include Andrew Wojteczko (Lexus IS300), BimmerWorld teammates Seth Thomas and James Clay (BMW 325i) and Tindol Motorsports teammates Charles Espenlaub and Michael Galati (Mazda 6).

 

Canadian Drivers

The following drivers call Canada home: Nick Majors (Toronto, Ont.), Ron Fellows (Mississauga, Ont.), Scott Nicol (Barrie, Ont.), Kuno Wittmer (Montreal, Que.), Andrew Wojteczko (Caledon, Ont.) and Sasha Anis (Toronto, Ont.)

 

Point Standings

SCCA SPEED GT Drivers' Championship

After Seven of 10 Rounds

Ps., Driver, Car, Points (Wins)

1, Randy Pobst, Porsche 911 GT3, 215 (2)

2, Andy Pilgrim, Cadillac CTS-V, 197 (1)

3, Lawson Aschenbach, Cadillac CTS-V, 185

4, Michael Galati, Porsche 911 GT3, 174

5, Eric Curran, Chevrolet Corvette, 153 (3)

6, Tommy Archer, Dodge Viper, 143 (1)

7, Lou Gigliotti, Chevrolet Corvette, 142

8, Doug Peterson, Chevrolet Corvette, 118

9, Rob Foster (T), Chevrolet Corvette, 115

10, Jeff Courtney, Dodge Viper, 106

 

SCCA SPEED GT Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER

After Seven of 10 Rounds

Ps., Manufacturer, Points (Wins)

1, Cadillac, 45 (1)

2, Chevrolet, 41 (3)

2, Porsche, 41 (2)

4, Dodge, 19 (1)

 

SCCA SPEED Touring Car Drivers' Championship

After Seven of 10 Rounds

Ps., Driver, Car, Points (Wins)

1, Jeff Altenburg, Mazda 6, 215 (2)

2, Randy Pobst, Mazda 6, 198 (2)

3, James Sofronas(T), BMW 325Ci, 173

4, Pierre Kleinubing, Acura TSX, 169

5, Chip Herr, Audi A4, 159 (1)

6, Peter Cunningham, Acura TSX, 152 (1)

7, Kuno Wittmer, Acura RSX, 146

8, Charles Espenlaub, Mazda 6, 137

9, Michael Galati, Mazda 6, 106

10, Brandon Davis, Acura TSX, 95

 

SCCA SPEED Touring Car Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER

After Seven of 10 Rounds

Ps., Manufacturer, Points (Wins)

1, Mazda, 53 (4)

2, Acura, 34 (1)

3T, Audi, 26 (1)

3T, BMW, 26 (1)

 

Event Entry lists

SCCA SPEED GT Championship

No., Driver / Hometown, Sponsors Car

1, Lawson Aschenbach/ W. Palm Beach, FL, XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose, Cadillac CTS-V

2, Cindi Lux (R)/ Aloha, OR, Dodge, Dodge Viper

3, Scotty B. White/ Puyallup, WA, Dodge, Dodge Viper

6, Jeffrey Robbins (R)/ Southfield, MI, RSIG Security, Dodge Viper

8, Andy Pilgrim/ Boca Raton, FL, XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose, Cadillac CTS-V

12, Brian Kubinski (R)/ Plainfiled,IL, Diamond Construction/Blackdog, Chevrolet Corvette

13, Nick Majors/ Toronto, ON, Woodhouse Performance, Dodge Viper

14, James Sofronas/ Newport Beach, CA, Global Motorsports Group, Porsche 911 GT-3

16, Ron Fellows/ Mississauga, ON, XM/Mobil 1/Motorola/Bose, Cadillac CTS-V

17, Rob Foster/ Phoenix, AZ, LTIContract/FosterMtrsp/Grp4Mt, Chevrolet Corvette

20, Dane Moxlow (R)/ Grosse Ile, MI, Deronda USA, Pontiac GTO

22, Randy Pobst/ Gainesville, GA, K-PAX Racing, LLC/Jim Haughey, Porsche 911 GT-3

23, Michael Galati/ Olmsted, OH, K-PAX Racing LLC/Jim Haughey, Porsche 911 GT-3

28, Lou Gigliotti/ Dallas, TX, LG Pro Long Tube Headers, Chevrolet Corvette

30, Eric Curran/ East Hampton, Whelen Motorsports, Chevrolet Corvette

31, Sonny Whelen/ Old Saybrook, CT, Whelen Engineering, Chevrolet Corvette

34, Tony Gaples/ Libertyville, IL, Blackdog Racing/Kleinschmidt, Chevrolet Corvette

51, Lenny Diller/ Garden City, NY, King COle Audio Visual, Dodge Viper

76, John Bourassa/ Jupiter Island, FL, Indeco / Hillview Vineyards, Porsche 911 Turbo

82, Michael McCann/ North Canton, OH, McCann Plastics/K&N Filters, Dodge Viper

87, Doug Peterson/ Bonita Springs, FL, LG Pro Long Tube Headers, Chevrolet Corvette

99, Jeff Courtney/ Slinger, WI, Kenda Tires/ProMPI, Dodge Viper

05, Jason Daskalos (R)/ Albuquerque, NM, Daskalos Development & Investm, Dodge Viper

 

SCCA SPEED Touring Car Championship

No., Driver / Hometown, Sponsors Car

1, Pierre Kleinubing/ Coconut Creek, FL, Acura Certified Pre-Owned, Acura TSX

8, Jason Martinelli (R)/ Roxbury, CT, TecmarkAutosport Ltd., BMW 325Ci

17, Chip Herr/ Lititz, PA, STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff, Audi A4

18, Ian Baas/ Noblesville, IN, STaSIS /Clear Capital/Pfaff, Audi A4

19, Adam Pecorari/ Aspon, PA, STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff, Audi A4

29, James Sofronas/ Newport Beach, CA, TecmarkAutosport/GMG/BMW, BMW 325Ci

34, Nick Esayian/ Encinitas, CA, Acura Certified Pre-Owned, Acura TSX

36, James Clay/ Blacksburg, VA, Bimmerworld, BMW 325i

37, Joey Hand/ Sacramento, CA, Bimmerworld, BMW 325i

38, Seth Thomas/ Cumming, GA, Bimmerworld, BMW 325i

41, Scott Nicol (R)/ Barrie, ON, Velocity Motorsports, Honda Civic

42, Peter Cunningham/ Grafton, WI, Acura Certified Pre-Owned, Acura TSX

43, Brandon Davis/ Denver, CO, Acura Certified Pre-Owned, Acura TSX

44, Kuno Wittmer/ Montreal, QB, Acura Certified Pre-Owned, Acura RSX

61, Justin Pritchard/ Granville, OH, Mazza Vinyards Motorsports, Toyota Celica

64, Andrew Wojteczko (R)/ Caledon, ON, Auto Analyser Racing, Lexus IS300

65, Sasha Anis (R)/ Toronto, ON, Auto Analyser Racing, Lexus IS300

72, Jeff Altenburg/ Ellicott City, MD, Mazdaspeed Mtspts Development, Mazda 6

73, Randy Pobst/ Gainesville, GA, Mazdaspeed Mtspts Development, Mazda 6

74, Roberto Santos (R)/ Monterrey, Mexico, MazdaspeedMtrsptsDev/TPM, Mazda 6

92, Stan Wilson (R)/ Mount Juliet, TN, Sorted Performance, Dodge SRT-4

95, Michael Galati/ Olmsted, OH, Mazda North America/Tindol, Mazda 6

96, Charlie Putman/ Denver, CO, Tindol Motorsports/Pesco Inc., Mazda 6

97, Charles Espenlaub/ Lutz, FL, Mazdaspeed/Tindol/Oakley/Sparco, Mazda 6 

 

 

 

 

Erin Cechal

SCCA Public Relations Specialist

800/770-2055 ext. 354

ecechal@scca.com

www.scca.com

 

 


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