Champion
Racing puts its 24 Hours of Le Mans race preparations briefly on hold to focus
on the second round of the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Speed GT
Championship at the Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario,
Canada, on 18 May.
Having scored a sensational third-place on its world
motor racing debut in the Sebring series opener two months ago, Champion’s two
Audi Sport North America supported Audi RS 6 “Competition” sedans are certain
to be vying for honors in the 28-lap (68.85-mile) race.
Indeed the Florida-based team have been far from
inactive since Randy Pobst earned his new team a fine third at Sebring.
Reigning GT champion Michael Galati and Pobst will drive RS 6 sedans featuring
cooling and brake modifications that have been successfully tested recently at
Moroso.
With “double-header” races at Lime Rock, Conn., the
following weekend (23-26 May), Galati and Pobst are aiming to bank some useful
Manufacturers’ championship points over the next two weeks – a perfect
send-off for the team’s Le Mans-bound Audi R8 sportscar squad who are aiming
for success in arguably the world’s toughest race next month (14-15 June).
Michael Galati:
“Mosport is a track where I’ve done well at on previous
occasions – normally running inside the top-three. It’s one of the best
tracks in North America, pretty quick but with plenty of elevation changes. I
was on pole for the race last year and although our new RS 6 has more power
than the S4, the downside is that it’s a heavier car so considering the up and
down nature of the track, it could be hard work for us.”
Randy Pobst:
“It’s one of the great ‘old’ tracks - very challenging
and full of character. I think the track lay-out will suit the RS 6 – it’s a
high-speed circuit with minimal ‘stop-go’ sections. I had my first American
Le Mans Series class win in 2000 at Mosport having previously won a Grand-Am
race in the 1990s there. Champion Racing has worked hard since the opening
Sebring race and our cars now feature revised braking and cooling
modifications.”
Louis
Milone, Champion Racing RS 6 Team Leader:
“We’ve enjoyed successful tests of
our newly developed brake and cooling systems that the team have been working
hard on since the Sebring race. I’m certain Michael and Randy should both be
in contention for top results at Mosport.”
Rod Bymaster, Audi Sport North
America’s Motorsport Manager:
“The team is looking forward to
racing again and to put the development done over the last month to the test.
Mosport and the two Lime Rock races will play a major role in determining the
success of the season. Therefore, it is important that we have good results
at these races.”
Champion Racing SPEED GT Mosport Formguide (Audi S4
“Competition”)
2000 – Galati - Qualified: 3rd. Race: 2nd.
Derek Bell - Qualified: 8th. Race: 7th.
2001 – Galati - Qualified: 3rd. Race 3rd.
Bell - Qualified: 6th. Race: 21st.
2002 – Galati - Qualified: 1st
(1:28.457secs). Race 6th. Bell: Qualified: 8th. Race: 7th.
Champion Racing 2003 SPEED GT Formguide (Audi RS 6
“Competition”)
Rd 1: Sebring (14 March)
Galati - Qualified: 5th. Race: 25th
(not running at finish).
Pobst - Qualified: 2nd. Race: 3rd
Mosport Timetable:
Friday 16 May:
1110-1140 / 1500-1530 - Practice
Saturday 17 May:
0935-0955 - Qualifying
Sunday 18 May:
1045-1145 - Race
