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SCCA: Heinricy wins wild World Challenge GT Championship

10 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

ARCHER SCORES DRIVERS' TITLE AND BISKUP ROOKIE OF THE YEAR


MONTEREY, Calif. - John Heinricy, of Holly, Mich., won a wild season finale World Challenge GT Championship race over George Biskup, of Naperville, Ill. at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Bobby Archer, of Ft. Worth, Texas, finished third to clinch the 1999 World Challenge GT Championship, edging Peter Kitchak by one point in the Drivers Championship, 249-248., while Biskup captured the Rookie of the Year honors.

The start of the race saw pole-sitter Kitchak hit from behind by Bill Cooper and sent into the gravel trap. Kitchak was able to rejoin the race and was placed at the rear of the field on the lead lap while Cooper received a stop-and-go penalty for the contact.

The lap five restart saw another incident as Derek Bell, Reese Cox and Tommy Safar II collided exiting corner three, with Bell and Safar II suffering race-ending damage but no injuries as Cox continued from the incident. The second restart saw Cooper serve his penalty, promoting Archer into the lead.

Archer was unable to retain the lead as both Biskup and Heinricy passed him, and then Heinricy and Biskup repeatedly swapped the lead throughout the remainder of the 25-lap, 55.95-mile race, with Heinricy winning by 0.833-second.

Starting from fifth place, Heinricy driving the No. 39 Rowleys Penzoil D.J Race Entreprises Covette C5 captured his first win of the 1999 season.

"It was a great race," said Heinricy. "The car was set up really well. It was perfect when we got to the track; just good all the way. We set out this year to get the C5 competitive in World Challenge. It's been very successful and there are many cars out there now."

Driving the No. 22 Biskup Racing Porsche 911 RSR, Biskup drove a strong race repeatedly leading before finishing second. The second place finish secured Biskup the 1999 World Challenge GT Championship Rookie of the Year award.

" Today John was a great driver and I got past him but I gave it right back to him," said Biskup. "I wanted to be consistent all season. I started strong and finished strong, but had some trouble in the middle."

Archer in the No. 32 Viper Speed Dodge Viper drove a consistent to clinch the driver championship. In the end it was the one lap led that gave him the 1999 World Challenge GT Championship over Kitchak.

I did everything I could to lead at least one lap because I wanted the points," said Archer. "The crew meanwhile was telling me that Kitchak was closing fast so leading a lap was important. John and George were just ahead and one little slip during the race would have let me ahead, but they didn't."

Rounding out the top five at was Kitchak, and David Schardt, of Dayton, Ohio.

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