MONTEREY,
Ca. (October 17, 2004) - For a second consecutive time, the Audi
Certified Champion RS 6 team has claimed the Manufacturers'
Championship in the SPEED World Challenge GT Series competing with a
pair of Audi RS 6 "Competition" cars. In Audi and Champion Racing's
five-year history in the GT series, today's result brings the total of
Manufacturers' Championships to three including the year 2001 when the
team won their first Manufacturers' Championship with a pair of Audi
S4s.
While none of the three drivers stood on top of
the podium today, the strategy was always to focus on the
Manufacturer's Championship title as well as the Driver's Championship
title for Michael Galati. Galati, who entered the race four points
ahead of rival Tommy Archer (Dodge Viper) unfortunately couldn't
maintain a strong enough lead during the race to keep himself in
contention. Galati would have to settle for second.
The
lead two cars on the grid, Randy Pobst grided 4th and Peter Cunningham
grided 6th, did an outstanding job in keeping their Audi RS 6s up
front. Both launched themselves at the start, Pobst at one point in
2nd position, but slowly as the 47 minute race unfolded, both fell
back a few positions and Pobst and Cunningham would finish 4th and 5th
respectively, just enough to keep Audi in contention for points for
the Manufacturers' Championship.
The Audi Certified Champion RS 6 team
finished the 2004 season with three pole positions (Pobst two, Galati
one) and nine podium finishes.
Michael Galati (Olmstead, OH). "As usual, the
guys did a fantastic job. With all the penalties we've received this
year, and to be able to pull it off and win the Manufacturers'
Championship, it's exceptional. With the Driver's Championship, you
win some, you lose some."
Randy
Pobst (Gainesville, GA). "This team has been so strong all year. We
just chipped away bit by bit. We had some great competition and we
really didn't know the result until the checkered flag today. My hat
is off to the entire Champion Racing team. They are the best in the
industry."
Peter Cunningham (West Bend, WI). "Today was
just awesome. I mean we were just peddling as fast as we could. For a
while Andy Pilgrim was coming and then Max Angelelli (Cadillac
drivers). Pobst did a great job and I was just able to keep up with
him. It was my pleasure to be a part of this and congratulations to
Audi and Champion Racing on their Championship."
Louis Milone (Audi RS 6 Team Leader). "I'm
really excited about this. After Road Atlanta, to come back and win
the Championship, that's pretty amazing. The team did a great job and
having Peter Cunningham on board was the asset I knew he would be. All
three of them did a fantastic job this weekend. I'm sorry Michael
(Galati) didn't win the Driver's Championship. Sometimes you just
can't win them all."
DRIVER/HOMETOWN/STATE CAR LAPS DIFFERENCE
1) Wolf Henzler(R)/Nuertingen/GR Porsche 911
Cup 28
2) Boris Said/Carlsbad/CA Saleen SR 28 +2.391
3) Tommy Archer/Duluth/MN Viper CompCoupe 28
+16.898
4) Randy Pobst/Gainesville/GA Audi RS 6 29
+18.616
5) Peter Cunningham/W. Bend/WIAudi RS 6 28
+19.658
6) Michael Galati/Olmsted/OH Audi RS 6 28
+36.71
Margin of Victory: 02.391 Seconds
Fastest Race Lap: Car #17 Wolf Henzler
01:33.127 86.514 MPH Overall Race: 47:22.455 62.664 Miles 79.364 MPH |