PSCR: Archer Wins Speedvision GT Championship Season Opener at Mosport Park
24 May 1999
BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO--Bobby Archer, in the No. 32 Viper Speed Dodge Viper, won the season-opening Speedvision GT Championship race at the 2.459-mile Mosport International Raceway over George Biskup, in the No. 22 Biskup Racing Porsche RSR. David Schardt finished third in the 58:01.357 race that started seven different manufacturer models in the first eight positions."To get a win this weekend was a momentous feat," said Archer. "Ten days ago we started a complete rebuild on the car, and we only had seven laps in practice and qualifying prior to the race."
Archer scored his sixth-career World Challenge win, and his the first since the 1991 Mosport event, in a race that finished under caution, but provided tight racing action for the top four positions between Archer, Biskup, Schardt, and Bill Cooper.
"When we came to Mosport, our goal was to keep the car on the track and finish the race," said Biskup, who takes the early lead the Red Line Oil Rookie of the Year race. "This is a great start for our season, and we will continue to try and put in consistent performances at every event."
Cooper, who started on the pole, led the first 22 laps of the 58:01.357 race, and seemed to have command of the race before a faulty clutch dropped the No. 75 Les Stanford Chevrolet Corvette back to third. Archer then inherited a lead he would not relinquish, fending off repeated challenges from Biskup and Schardt, in the No. 94 Hikari Racing/Toyota Racing Development Toyota Supra Turbo. "We were lucky that Bill (Cooper) had problems went out," said Archer. "He really had the field covered with power and handling. You never like the race to finish under caution, but we'll take it."
The trio developed a 23-second lead over fourth position before a lap 26 incident, resulting in no injuries, forced the field to finish the race under the yellow flag.
Biskup's runner-up finish, and Schardt's third were respective career-best World Challenge finishes for each driver.
"Over the winter, we were able to get a lot of things sorted out with the car," said Schardt. "This is a very demanding track, and the Hikari Works Toyota Supra Turbo was great today. The team really did a great job this weekend."
Bill Cooper was able to keep his car in the race to finish fourth, followed by Derek Bell in fifth position, in the No. 30 Speedvision Legends of Motorsports BMW M Coupe. Bell made his Speedvision GT Championship debut as part of the Speedvision Legends of Motorsport program as both driver and in-race commentator for the Speedvision Network. Bell is not eligible for Drivers' Championship points.
After one round of the 1999 Speedvision GT Championship, Bobby Archer leads with 32 points, followed by Biskup (28), Schardt (26), Cooper (27) and Gary Smith (21).
Bowmanville, Ontario -- The results from Sunday's 28-lap, 68.852-mile 1999 Speedvision GT Championship at Mosport International Raceway, with finishing position, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
1. (5), Bobby Archer, Ft. Worth, Texas, GT, Dodge Viper, 28. 2. (2), George Biskup, Naperville, Ill., GT, Porsche 911 RSR, 28. 3. (3), David Schardt, Dayton, Ohio, GT, Toyota Supra Turbo, 28. 4. (1), Bill Cooper, Phoenix, Ariz., GT, Corvette ZR-1, 28. 5. (7), Derek Bell, Pagham Sussex, England, GTB, BMW, 28. 6. (20), Gary Smith, Bradford, Pa., GT, Ford Mustang R, 28. 7. (21), John Kohler, Bradford, Pa., GT, Ford Mustang R, 28. 8. (12), Walter Swick, Concord, Ohio, GT, BMW M3, 28. 9. (14), Peirre Bareil, Cap de la Madeline, QB, GT, Ford Mustang LX, 26. 10. (13), Dennis Petersen, McHenry, Ill., GT, Chevrolet Corvette, 26. 11. (18), Alain Chebeir, Pelham, N.Y., GT, BMW M Coupe, 26. 12. (6), Peter Kitchack, Excelsior, Minn., GT, Porsche 911, 26. 13. (17), Walter Dethier, Warren, Conn., GT, Ford Mustang Cobra, 26. 14. (11), Terry Lackey, Hickcock, Texas, GT, Chevrolet Corvette LT-4, 24, Crash. 15. (16), Scotty B. White, Puyallup, Wash., GT, Chevrolet Corvette C5, 24, Mech. 16. (4), Pete Halsmer, Bloomfield, Mich., GT, Acura NSX, 18. 17. (8), Paul Brown, Omaha, Neb., GT, Saleen Mustang, 11, Mech. 18. (9), Reese Cox, Marietta, Ga., GT, Chevrolet Corvette C5, 8, Mech. 19. (10), Bob Schiesser, Brookfield, Conn., GT, Saleen Mustang, 8, Crash. 20. (19), John Heinricy, Holly, Mich., GT, Pontiac Firebird, 3, Mech. 21. (15), Kelly Bradley, Hitchcock, Texas, GT, Chevrolet Corvette LT-4, 1, Mech. Time of Race: 58 minutes, 1.357 seconds. Average Speed: 71.198 miles-per-hour Margin of Victory: .80499 seconds Lap Leaders: Laps 1-22, Bill Cooper; Laps 23-28, Bobby Archer Fastest Race Lap: George Biskup, 1:33.165 (95.018 mph)
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