September 25, 2004
Champion
RS 6 and S4 Can't Overcome
Source:
Champion
Racing
The
Audi Certified Champion RS 6 and S4 team gave their best
efforts during today's 50-minute SPEED World Challenge GT
sprint race but nothing the crew nor drivers did could
overcome the recent restrictions put upon the Champion Racing
team from Pompano Beach, FL
Michael Galati and Peter Cunningham, drivers of the Audi RS
6s, were grid 12th and 13th for the standing start.
Galati, empowering the all-wheel-drive quattro traction
system, dove to the outside and used the grassy strip to make
up some much needed positioning. Cunningham followed
suit and both went into Turn 1 side by side with Galati
finally taking the advantage. The two would maintain their
positions throughout much of the race and actually gain a few
spots due to attrition. The ultimate result was one of
the lowest finishes for Audi and Champion Racing in the SPEED
World Challenge GT Series in their five year history.
Randy Pobst, grid last due to a mistake in weight adjustment,
fought his way up from 30th position to 13th position.
The Audi S4 was fast in the straights but since the car has
sat idle for nearly two years, it lacked sufficient suspension
performance.
Galati is still lead in the lead for the Driver Championship
by three points and Audi and Cadillac are now tied at 48
points for the Manufacturers' Championship.
Today's race will air at 1:00 pm (EDT), Sunday, September 26
on SPEED Channel.
Round Ten of the SCCA SPEED GT Championship heads to Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca Oct. 15-17, as part of Fry's Electronics
Sports Car Championships.
Michael Galati (Olmstead, OH). "I had a great start
and then after that I was just trying to survive. I mean
the difference in speed, I felt like a Touring car on the
straights. I pushed real hard throughout the race.
It was just too much for us to overcome."
Randy Pobst (Gainesville, GA). "We brought out the
S4 as our secret weapon and while it performed extremely well,
it's still two years behind in suspension development.
It still however, was a pleasure to drive. The starts
are still the same though, great traction from the
Audis."
Peter Cunningham (West Bend, WI). "The Audi RS 6
handled great. We were just in a whole different zip
code when it came to the straights. Guys that we were
beating in the corners would come back and beat us down the
straight-aways. It was very frustrating. Otherwise
the car braked great and went around the corners great.
The quattro traction is amazing!"
DRIVER/HOMETOWN/STATE
CAR
LAPS DIFFERENCE
1) Max Angelelli/Monte Carlo/MC Cadillac CTS-V
29
2) Robin Liddell/Edinburgh Scotland Porsche 911 Cup
29 +.243
3) Lou Gigliotti/Dallas/TX Corvette Z06
29 +7.801
4) Phil McClure/Floris/IA Corvette Z06
29 +8.104
5) Tommy Archer/Duluth/MN Viper CompCoupe
29 +10.99
11) Peter Cunningham/W. Bend/WIAudi RS 6
29 +28.687
12) Michael Galati/Olmsted/OH Audi RS 6
29 +29.435
13) Randy Pobst/Gainesville/GA Audi RS 6
29 +30.562
Margin of Victory: 00.243 Seconds
Fastest Race Lap: Car #72 Phil McClure
01:29.374 102.311 MPH
Overall Race: 49:11.379 73.66 Miles 89.848
MPH
SPEED GT Point Standings
1) Michael Galati Audi RS 6 219
2) Tommy Archer Viper CompCoupe 215
3) Andy Pilgrim Cadillac CTS-V 194
4) Max Angelelli Cadillac CTS-V 187
5) Randy Pobst Audi RS 6 180
SPEED GT Manufacturer's Championship
1) Audi 48
2) Cadillac 48
3) Chevrolet 35
4) Dodge 31
