Kuno Wittmer Leds The First Practice Session Of The SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge
Canada
Aug 24, 2007
Mark Weber
Québécois Kuno Wittmer led the first practice session for Round Eight of the SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship, part of the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. Adam Pecorarri, of Aspon, Penn., and Michael Galati, of Olmsted, Ohio, completed the top three.
Putting his extensive track knowledge to use, Wittmer set a fast time of 1:30.118 (98.231 mph) around the 10-turn, 2.459-mile (3.957 km) road course on his first flying lap. Behind the wheel of the No. 44 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Acura RSX, Wittmer has won here before in other series and is happy to be back at what he considers his home track.
“It’s a relief to come to a circuit where I’ve won in the past, ” Wittmer said. “I’ve also won championships and pole positions here. It’s kind of my home track, although it’s four or five hours away from Montreal. I couldn’t ask for a better track in this area. I feel totally at home here.
“The RealTime guys gave me a really good car so far. Overall the balance and handling of the car is suited very well for Mosport right now. It’s exactly the setup I want on the car and I’ve got the knowledge here, so it all helps. ”
Employing the opposite strategy and setting a fast lap of 1:31.125 (97.145 mph) on his final lap of the session, Pecorari was second in morning practice in the No. 19 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Pfaff Audi A4.
Last year’s SCCA SPEED GT winner at Mosport, Galati, was third fastest in the No. 95 Mazda North America/Tindol Motorsports Mazda 6. Also third on the timesheets in SCCA SPEED GT practice, Galati’s fastest SCCA SPEED Touring Car time was a 1:31.143 (97.126 mph).
Currently fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, Pierre Kleinubing, of Coconut Creek, Fla., was fourth fastest in his No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned Acura TSX with a time of 1:31.210 (97.055 mph). Seth Thomas, of Cumming, Ga., completed the top five in his No. 38 BimmerWorld BMW 325i, with a time of 1:31.212 (97.053 mph).
Chip Herr (Audi A4), Randy Pobst (Mazda 6), Charles Espenlaub (Mazda 6), Peter Cunningham (Acura TSX) and Jason Martinelli (BMW 325Ci) completed the top ten.
