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Pobst leads all Audi speed GT front row at Mazda Raceway MONTEREY, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2003) -- For the third time this year, Audis swept the front row for a SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge GT race, with Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., taking ...
Published: Sep 7, 2003, 3:50 PM
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Pobst leads all Audi speed GT front row at Mazda Raceway
MONTEREY, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2003) -- For the third time this year, Audis swept the front row for a SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge GT race, with Randy Pobst, of Gainesville, Ga., taking the pole for Sunday's Round Eight race, part of the Fry's Electronics Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Teammate Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, will start alongside.
Driving the No. 2 Champion Audi Racing Audi RS 6, Pobst turned a fast time of 1:32.662 (86.948 mph) around the 2.238-mile circuit to earn his second pole of the season and move him to within one point of second place in the Drivers' Championship.
"I'm thrilled, I didn't think we had a shot at the pole, frankly," Pobst said describing his sixth front row appearance in eight races. "The Audi RS 6 has always qualified well. The quattro advantage that this car has drives all four wheels and it has a twin turbo V8 which is pretty much out of the street car. It's one of the only [unmodified] street engines running in this series. It results in us having to carry more weight. I am very pleased to have the Audi RS 6 on the pole, the car deserved it. It has never been better."
Coming off a season-best second place finish at Road America, Galati turned a fast lap of 1:33.143 (86.499 mph) in the No. 1 Audi to earn his third front-row starting spot of the season.
Rookie Paul Mumford, of Yorba Linda, Calif., proved his debut run from 23rd to third at Road America was no fluke, and qualified third in his SP Tools/Magellan Financial Dodge Viper Competition Coupe with a lap of 1:33.184 (86.461 mph). Mike Fitzgerald, who paced practice in his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, was fourth, followed by rookie Bryce Miller in a BMW M3.
Pobst made up ground on both point leader Bill Auberlen, who qualified eighth after experiencing gearbox problems, and second-place Phil McClure, who was not medically cleared to drive following a Road America crash that left him with a concussion.
Tomorrow's SCCA Speed World Challenge GT Championship Round Eight race is set to make its standing start at 3:05 p.m. (PDT). For more information, including live timing and scoring, please visit www.world-challenge.com.
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