Audi S4  2001  -  2002 

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Trois-Rivieres, Quebec (August 4, 2002) -- In a hard-fought battle round the 1.53 miles of this Canadian street circuit, Randy Pobst out dueled Michael Galati, leading flag-to-flag in Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship race at Le Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres. Johannes van Overbeek, of Danville, Calif., finished third.

Pobst's Porsche took the lead from the staggered standing start into turn one, though Galati's Audi was literally right alongside the Porsche as the pair rounded Turn One. In the opening laps, Pobst established a quick pace, with Galati quicker through the corners but losing ground to the Porsche on the straights. A full-course caution early in the race bunched the field back together, but on the lap five restart, Pobst got a good jump maintaining the lead. Despite numerous looks by Galati, Pobst held on to win by 1.1596-seconds, averaging 77.158 mph in the 33-lap, 50.193-mile contest.

"The car was great," said Pobst, who wins for the second consecutive race, leading flag-to-flag. "We only had an advantage in a few places, which makes for an interesting race. The car was fantastic in the hairpin, which helped a lot, as Michael [Galati] was quicker in the fast corners. I always have fun racing with Michael."

While Pobst led the entire way, Galati, driving the No. 1 Champion Audi Audi S4 Competition, stayed right on Pobst's bumper. The duo posted similar lap times, building a gap of over three seconds on third place. The second place finish strengthens Galati's lead in the championship to 27 points, 199-172 over van Overbeek.

"I think the staggered start definitely hurt my chances," said Galati, who captured his fourth podium finish of 2002. "I got a jump on Randy [Pobst] at the start but couldn't do anything in turn one. I got a few runs in the race, but was never able to capitalize."

Starting fifth, Derek Bell put his Legends of Motorsport Audi S4 in a solid fourth place after Peter Cunningham's Acura pitted with mechanical difficulties. But while running strongly in fourth, holding off van Overbeek's Porsche, Bell encountered a problem with one of his rear brakes, forcing Derek to pit for repairs. While he was eventually able to continue, Bell's long stop had dropped him to near the back of the field, where he was unable to make up further ground in the short GT race.

The SPEED GT class now takes an extended break before its next race, at Laguna Seca in late September.

SPEED GT Results from Trois-Rivieres:

1 - Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Porsche 911 Cup, 33 laps

2 - Michael Galati, N. Olmstead, Ohio, Audi S4 Comp., -1.159sec.

3 - Johannes van Overbeek, Danville, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, -4.753

12 - Derek Bell, Pagham, England, Audi S4 Comp., -9 laps

SPEED GT Driver Points after Trois Rivieres:

1 Michael Galati, Audi S4 Comp. 196

2 Johannes van Overbeek, Porsche 911 Cup 172

3 Peter Cunningham, Acura NSX SC 169

4 Jeff McMillin, BMW M3 161

5 John Young(R), Saleen SR 142

6 Randy Pobst, Porsche 911 Cup 128

7 Derek Bell, Audi S4 Comp. 127