Grand-Am
VIR: The Racer's Group preview
TRGPontiacGTO.Rs Go To VIR Hunting Championship GTO.R to Carry Grand-Am Mandated 108 lbs. Petaluma, California -- The TRG/Pontiac GTO.Rs will unload at VIR this week looking to take the championship lead in the Grand American Rolex Series GT ...
Published: Oct 4, 2005, 12:41 PM
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TRGPontiacGTO.Rs Go To VIR Hunting Championship
GTO.R to Carry Grand-Am Mandated 108 lbs.
Petaluma, California -- The TRG/Pontiac GTO.Rs will unload at VIR this week looking to take the championship lead in the Grand American Rolex Series GT class in round thirteen to be run at Virginia International Raceway on Saturday. Marc Bunting and Andy Lally head in the penultimate round just five points out of the overall GT lead. Teammates Paul Edwards and Jan Magnussen are determined to add more wins and pole positions to the resume of the GTO.R.
Grand Am bestowed a performance adjustment of 108 lbs. to the base weight of the car. The GTO.Rs will now run at 2,808 lbs..
Marc Bunting and Andy Lally started the season driving a TRG Porsche 911. At the midseason event at Daytona, the duo switched over to the as yet unproven Pontiac GTO.R. Behind the strength of the new car, the two have been able to get back into the thick of the GT championship and will be looking to assume the lead by the end of the VIR weekend.
"We have worked out pretty much every scenario as far as the championship goes," said Lally. "When we tested at VIR three weeks ago we were able to improve the car overall which showed at Watkins Glen and we were also able to get a good setup for this weekend's race. Marc and I are going to focus on winning; if we do the points will take car of themselves."
"Our test at VIR was really helpful, I had only been there in a Porsche before," said Bunting. "The weight is not a welcome penalty at this point in our championship run, I hope that the testing we did will negate the weight. The track has a good mix of everything, tight turns, fast ones and a long straight. We have been able to close the gap on the championship, we have to finish high and be consistent. We can't afford mistakes or a mechanical issue at this point in the season. I have complete confidence in the crew and the car."
"The weight should takes us back about three-quarters of a second on lap time," said Edwards. "Plus VIR is a long circuit and that will affect us some. We weren't able to test with the weight, but the TRG and Pratt & Miller guys will have a plan. VIR is fast becoming one of my favorite tracks. It is fast and has some good passing areas as well as some technical parts. The esses are fast and we have a good setup for that portion which will be key."
"I have been to VIR a couple of times," said Jan Magnussen. "It is a fast track with some combination of corners that really test a driver. The esses are really fast and if you have the car setup right they are fun and it can be a real advantage. The extra weight on the car will be a factor, but that means will just have to race harder and smarter."
"We are putting our focus behind Marc and Andy for the championship," said TRG owner Kevin Buckler. "Paul and Jan will be supporting them as much as possible throughout the rest of the season. We would like to take the lead in the points and go into Mexico ahead. Mexico will be a bit of an unknown to everyone."
The race from VIR will be televised live on Saturday, October 9th, starting at 1:00 p.m. EST on the Speed Channel.
-kr/trg-
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