Smrz Leads MX-5 Cup Practice in Mosport

BOWMANVILLE, Ont.– In his first visit to Mosport International Raceway, Brett Smrz, of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, set the fastest SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup morning practice time at Victoria Day Speedfest. Christian Franck, of Simi Valley, Calif., and Ryan Schimsk, of Austin, Texas, were second and third fastest, respectively.

Driving the No. 6 Alara/Smrz Racing MX-5, Smrz was the early leader in the 30-minute practice session, immediately entering laps under the MX-5 Cup qualifying record at the 2.459-mile track. After exchanging the top spot with current point leader Eric Foss, of Fort Worth, Texas, Smrz clocked a 1:36.690 (91.554 mph) on his fifth lap while working with teammate Franck.

“This is my first time here,” Smrz said. “Me and Christian Franck picked it up pretty quick yesterday in testing and we feel comfortable with the track. Alara’s setups are working well.

“Christian and I were working together all day yesterday, figuring out how each other works and each other’s lines, just getting comfortable with the track and working with each other.

“The draft will definitely be important, but we’ve also pulled the same times on our own. I know the draft is huge here though, because we make up a lot of ground on the straightaways.”

Franck followed his teammate on the time sheet, turning a 1:36.765 (91.483 mph) in the No. 16 Alara Racing MX-5.

Shortly after Smrz set the fastest lap of the session, the skies around Mosport darkened and rain began to fall. Most of the field chose to head back to the paddock early, leaving Smrz’ time unchallenged.

“We’ll go out in [in the afternoon]. We pulled in this time because there wasn’t enough time left in the session and we didn’t want to wreck the car.”

There is a strong chance of rain for this afternoon’s practice session which is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. (EDT).

Shimsk in the No. 81 Team MER/Airco Mechanical MX-5 completed the top three with a 1:36.917 (91.340 mph).

Winner of Round One at Road Atlanta, Foss was fourth on the time sheets with a 1:37.039 (91.225 mph) in the No. 28 Autobarn Mazda/Brooke Co. MX-5. He was followed by the No. 27 Team MER/Huffmaster Co. MX-5 of Robert Huffmaster, from Clarkston, Mich. All of the top five cars were under the qualifying lap record of 1:37.115 (91.153 mph), set by Russ Bond in 2006.

Anders Hainer, Elivan Goulart, Steve Welk, Neal Sapp and Ara Malkhassian completed the top ten.

Qualifying for Round Two of the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at 9:10 a.m. (EDT). The race will take place Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. (EDT). Live timing and scoring is available at www.mx-5cup.com.