Audi RS 6 Team Clinches Manufacturers Championship
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 Angelleli (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 Fastest Race Lap: Car #17 Wolf Henzler 01:33.127 86.514 MPH Overall Race: 47:22.455 62.664 Miles 79.364 MPH
SPEED GT Point Standings 1) Tommy Archer Viper CompCoupe 240 2) Michael Galati Audi RS 6 234 3) Max Angelelli Cadillac CTS-V 206 4) Randy Pobst Audi RS 6 204 5) Andy Pilgrim Cadillac CTS-V 198
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