Friday, August 24, 2007

SCCA SPEED Touring Cars: Canadian Wittmer Fastest in SPEED Touring Car Practice at Mosport

CANADA (Aug. 24, 2007) ­ Québécois Kuno Wittmer led the first practice session for Round Eight of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship, part of the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Adam Pecorarri, of Aspon, Penn., and Michael Galati, of Olmsted, Ohio, completed the top three.

Putting his extensive track knowledge to use, Wittmer set a fast time of 1:30.118 (98.231 mph) around the 10-turn, 2.459-mile (3.957 km) road course on his first flying lap. Behind the wheel of the No. 44 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Acura RSX, Wittmer has won here before in other series and is happy to be back at what he considers his home track.

“It’s a relief to come to a circuit where I’ve won in the past,” Wittmer said. “I’ve also won championships and pole positions here. It’s kind of my home track, although it’s four or five hours away from Montreal. I couldn’t ask for a better track in this area. I feel totally at home here.

“The RealTime guys gave me a really good car so far. Overall the balance and handling of the car is suited very well for Mosport right now. It’s exactly the setup I want on the car and I’ve got the knowledge here, so it all helps.”

Employing the opposite strategy and setting a fast lap of 1:31.125 (97.145 mph) on his final lap of the session, Pecorari was second in morning practice in the No. 19 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff Audi A4.

Last year’s SCCA SPEED GT winner at Mosport, Galati, was third fastest in the No. 95 Mazda North America/Tindol Motorsports Mazda 6. Also third on the timesheets in SCCA SPEED GT practice, Galati’s fastest SCCA SPEED Touring Car time was a 1:31.143 (97.126 mph).
Currently fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., was fourth fastest in his No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSX with a time of 1:31.210 (97.055 mph). Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., completed the top five in his No. 38 BimmerWorld BMW 325i, with a time of 1:31.212 (97.053 mph).

Chip Herr (Audi A4), Randy Pobst (Mazda 6), Charles Espenlaub (Mazda 6), Peter Cunningham (Acura TSX) and Jason Martinelli (BMW 325Ci) completed the top ten.

The second round of practice for the SCCA SPEED Touring Cars at Mosport International Raceway is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (EDT). Living timing and lap notes will be available on www.world-challenge.com.
-30-

BOWMANVILLE, Ontario - Results from the first practice session for Sunday's Round Eight SCCA Pro Racing SPEED Touring Championship race part, of the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport at Mosport International Raceway, with position, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour.
1, (44), Kuno Wittmer, Montreal, Quebec, Acura RSX, 1:30.118, 98.231.
2, (19), Adam Pecorari, Aspon, Pa., Audi A4, 1:31.125, 97.145.
3, (95), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Mazda 6, 1:31.143, 97.126.
4, (1), Pierre Kleinubing, Coconut Creek, Fla., Acura TSX, 1:31.210, 97.055.
5, (38), Seth Thomas(T), Cumming, Ga., BMW 325i, 1:31.212, 97.053.
6, (17), Chip Herr, Lititz, Pa., Audi A4, 1:31.276, 96.985.
7, (73), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Mazda 6, 1:31.292, 96.968.
8, (97), Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, Fla., Mazda 6, 1:31.388, 96.866.
9, (42), Peter Cunningham, Grafton, Wis., Acura TSX, 1:31.432, 96.819.
10, (8), Jason Martinelli(R), Roxbury, Conn., BMW 325Ci, 1:31.484, 96.764.
11, (43), Brandon Davis, Denver, Colo., Acura TSX, 1:31.497, 96.750.
12, (29), James Sofronas(T), Newport Beach, Calif., BMW 325Ci, 1:31.573, 96.670.
13, (34), Nick Esayian(T), Encinitas, Calif., Acura TSX, 1:31.587, 96.655.
14, (72), Jeff Altenburg, Ellicott City, Md., Mazda 6, 1:31.621, 96.619.
15, (37), Joey Hand, Sacramento, Calif., BMW 325i, 1:31.661, 96.577.
16, (96), Charlie Putman(T), Denver, Colo., Mazda 6, 1:31.719, 96.516.
17, (74), Roberto Santos(R), Monterrey Mexico, , Mazda 6, 1:31.736, 96.498.
18, (41), Scott Nicol, Barrie, Ontario, Honda Civic, 1:32.362, 95.844.
19, (65), Sasha Anis(R), Toronto, Ontario, Lexus IS 300, 1:32.785, 95.407.
20, (18), Ian Baas, Noblesville, Ind., Audi A4, 1:33.578, 94.599.
21, (92), Stan Wilson(R), Mount Juliet, Tenn., Dodge SRT-4, 1:34.800, 93.379.
22, (61), Justin Pritchard(R), Grandville, Ohio, Toyota Celica GTS, 1:34.966, 93.216.
23, (64), Andrew Wojteczko(R), Caledon, Ontario, Lexus IS 300, no time.

No comments:

Post a Comment