Grand-Am

SCC: Laguna Seca: TRG preview

TRG Going for Back-to-Back Wins in KONI Sports Car Challenge Race at Laguna Petaluma, Calif., (May 12, 2009) - TRG's Duncan Ende and Spencer Pumpelly will be looking for a second win in a row this weekend at the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car ...

Edited: Dec 21, 2009, 5:24 AM

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TRG Going for Back-to-Back Wins in KONI Sports Car Challenge Race at Laguna

Petaluma, Calif., (May 12, 2009) - TRG's Duncan Ende and Spencer Pumpelly will be looking for a second win in a row this weekend at the Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge Verizon Wireless Festival of Speed to be run at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday May 16. The duo won the last race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Ende and Pumpelly, behind the wheel of their No. 39 DigiTrust Group/Adam's Polishes/Racer's Roast Coffee/TRG Porsche 997 currently sit fifth in the KONI Challenge driver's point standings. For Ende and Pumpelly Laguna will be a test of their championship mettle.

"I'm really happy for KONI to be returning to Laguna this year after a 2008 season devoid of West Coast events," Ende said. "The downhill run from the top of the Corkscrew through turns nine and ten is one of my favorite sections of racetrack and it has been far too long since I've seen it! Laguna should be a reasonably good track for our Porsches, but the severe uphill front and back straights are going to be tough for us with the huge power advantage that the Mustangs and BMWs have. We have to make the most of our corner speed and stopping power, as always. Thankfully the ST field isn't as large this weekend as it sometimes is, so we shouldn't get hung out lapping slower cars as often than we might ordinarily. If we can qualify up front and play the inevitable Laguna-gravel-trap cautions right we should come out of this weekend with a solid finish."

"Laguna is a low grip track so trying to optimize everything we can with the suspension and alignment will be critical," Pumpelly said. "If we have a long green run we should fair OK, but with our huge power deficit we will struggle if we have to sprint to the finish. More good strategy, more great pit stops, and lots of green flag racing."

John Potter and Andy Lally in the No. 41 Magnus Racing/TRG Porsche 997 will be looking to get into the top ten in points, the duo is currently 11th. A DNF in the last race at New Jersey set them back, but Laguna is a strong track for veteran Lally.

"Turn five and six is critical in the KONI car, it is a key section to setting-up your car to do well at Laguna," Lally said. "John and I had a tough race at New Jersey when the transmission let go, but we were very competitive and I think we could have drafted Duncan and Spencer across the finish line. We will need the caution flags to be minimal and have all around good run on the track and in the pits to do well this weekend."

Kevin Buckler, TRG team owner, has his KONI cars coming on strong.

"After we got over Daytona, where we just got out powered, we've had a couple of very good events," Buckler said. "Duncan and Spencer won the last race, Andy and John nearly won at Homestead. We would like to put a good race together this weekend for both cars and go for a one-two at what is almost a home track for us. We have been doing well with simply great teamwork all around and that is what this is all about."

The KONI Challenge Sports Car Series race from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will take the green flag Saturday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. PT. The race will be televised on the SPEED Channel, taped delayed, on May 23rd at 12:00 p.m. ET.

-credit: trg

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