World Challenge - Sofronas, Brown And Rapone Leads Practice At Mosport

BOWMANVILLE, Canada (May 20, 2011) – Two Pirelli World Challenge class Championship leaders and a series newcomer led the opening practice on Friday afternoon at Mosport International Raceway, part of the Pirelli Grand Prix of Mosport Victoria Day Speedfest Presented by Optima Batteries. GT leader James Sofronas, from Newport Beach, Calif., GTS leader Paul Brown, from Covina, Calif., and rookie Anthony Rapone in Touring Car, from Thornhill, Ontario, led the session in their respective classes.

Sofronas topped the GT class in his No. 14 GMG Porsche 911 GT3 with a best lap of 1:21.084 (109.175 mph) around the 10-turn, 2.459-mile circuit. Sofronas’ time is unofficially under the existing qualifying record of 1:22.256 (107.620 mph), set by Leighton Reese in 2005.

Round Four winner Jason Daskalos was second during the 25-minute session with a best time of 1:21.340 (108.832 mph) in the No. 7 Dalsin Development Dodge Viper. Patrick Lindsey followed Daskalos in the No. 12 Hawk Performance Chevrolet Corvette with a time of 1:21.433 (108.707 mph).

The Cadillac teammates completed the top-five in GT, with Johnny O’Connell in the No. 3 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V in fourth with a best time 1:21.649 (108.420 mph). Teammate Andy Pilgrim was just behind O’Connell, posting a time of 1:21.963 (108.004 mph) in the matching No. 8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac CTS-V.

Brown set his GTS-topping time early in the session in the No. 50 Lucas Oil/K&N Filters Ford Mustang Boss 302S. Brown’s time of 1:27.973 (100.626 mph) was best in class, but a mechanical failure left him stranded just off of pit lane and unable to finish the 25-minute session.

Defending GTS Champion Peter Cunningham was second in class in the No. 1 Acura/RealTime Racing Acura TSX, but well back of Brown with a time of 1:29.122 (99.329 mph). Fifteen-year-old Alec Udell was third in the GTS class after a time of 1:29.571 (98.831 mph). Udell’s position in the No. 06 Momentum Autosports Chevrolet Camaro made it three different manufacturers in the top three of the GTS class.

Rapone, the 2010 Canadian Touring Car Champion, led the Touring Car Class in his first World Challenge appearance. Rapone posted a best time of 1:33.058 (95.127 mph) in his No. 81 Durabond Honda Civic Si.

Round Two winner Tristan Herbert was second behind the wheel of the No. 33 Brimtek Motorsports Volkswagen GTI, posting a time of 1:33.765 (94.410 mph) to fall less than half a second behind Rapone.

Toronto-native Aaron Povoledo, the Touring Car Round Four winner, was third in the No. 88 K-Pax Racing Volvo C30 with a time of 1:34.722 (93.456 mph).

The Pirelli World Challenge returns to the track at 3:05 p.m. (EDT) Friday afternoon for the qualifying, with the Round Five race scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Mosport International Raceway.