| |
Archive of Audi S4 Race
Reports/News/Photos 2002 |
|
| |
Select an event to view images available. (image count) |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Audi
S4
2001 -
2002
|
|
|
. |
| |
2002 Speed GT World Challenge GT Series |
|
| |
|
|
| |
2002 SEBRING - GALATI LEADS POLE TO CHECKERS |
|
| |
|
|
| |
15 March 2002 (Sebring, Florida) - Reigning World
Challenge
GT Champion Michael Galati picked up where he left off in 2001, by winning
the
first Speed World Challenge GT race of 2002 at Sebring International
Raceway,
part of the 12 Hours of Sebring weekend. Team mate Derek Bell brought his
Audi
S4 Competition home in 7th place.
Galati won
the inaugural Woody's Ice Pole Award at a speed of
95.669mph over the 3.7-mile Sebring road course, besting Peter
Cunningham's
95.067mph speed in the RealTime Acura NSX. Third qualifying spot went to
G&W
Motorsports' Johannes van Overbeek, who clocked a 94.940mph lap in his
Porsche
911 Cup. Derek Bell encountered trouble with his gearbox/shifter during
the
qualifying session, setting a speed of 94.107mph, good for ninth on the
starting
grid.
Galati and Bell got away cleanly at the standing
start of Friday's
50-minute Speed GT feature race, with Galati taking the lead over rival
Cunningham
as the field rushed toward Turn One. Back in the pack, however, three cars
got
together, resulting in a long full-course caution to clean up the debris,
and
all three cars involved were out of the race.
At the restart Galati again moved out on the field
with Cunningham
in hot pursuit, though Galati remained unchallenged in the closing laps
and
took Victory by a margin of 4.750 seconds over Cunningham, who set fast
lap
of the race at 02:20.901 to Galati's best 2:21.583. Jeff McMillin brought
his
BMW M3 home third to take the final Podium spot. Derek Bell finished 7th
after
battling with the G&W Porsche of Justin Marks for several laps. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Sebring Speed GT Results -
1. (1), Michael Galati, Audi S4 Comp., 18 laps.
2. (2), Peter Cunningham, Acura NSX SC, 18laps, -4.75sec.
3. (6), Jeff McMillin, BMW M3, 18, -8.127.
4. (7), Phil McClure, Corvette ZO6, 18, -12.038.
5. (4), John Young(R), Saleen SR, 18, -15.458.
6. (8), Justin Marks, Porsche 911 Cup, 18, -28.291.
7. (9), Derek Bell, Audi S4 Comp., 18, -30.917.
|
|
|
. |
| |
 |
 |
 |
|
Scrutinizing the timing
monitors during GT Qualifying |
Their Qualifying runs
completed, G&W's Johannes van Overbeek and Mike Galati watch intently to
see if their times hold.. |
Qualifying completed, GT
Pole-sitter Galati gives Thumbs-Up |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Michael Galati, Audi's Rod
Bymaster and Derek Bell debrief a session |
Derek Bell during early
week testing |
Marino Franchitti takes a
turn in the "T" car |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
GT Champion Galati hustles
his S4 during GT Qualifying |
Two Bells - Derek and
Justin relax in the shade before Friday's Speed GT race |
Peter Cunningham and
Michael Galati before the start of the Speed GT race |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Galati leads the field
toward Turn One seconds after the standing start |
Derek Bell just avoids the
spinning melee behind him just after the start |
At the Restart, Bell and
Marks race wheel-to-wheel into Turn One |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Galati motors toward his
first GT win of 2002 |
Galati (c), McMillin (l)
and Cunningham (r) celebrate on the Sebring Podium |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
