SCCA NEWS: Pecorari Paces Opening SPEED Touring Car Practice at Mid-Ohio

Photo by John Thawley LEXINGTON, Ohio (July 20, 2007) – Adam Pecorari, of Aspon, Pa., was fastest in Friday’s opening SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Championship practice for this weekend’s SPEED Touring Car at Mid-Ohio Presented by Trenton Forging race. Jeff Altenburg, of Ellicott City, Md., was second fastest.

Driving the No. 19 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Sewickley Audi A4, Pecorari turned a fastest time of 1:33.533 (86.908 mph) around the 13-turn, 2.258-mile circuit.

“I’ve been here quite a bit and won several races in Formula Fords and IMSA Lites, and we came into this weekend with a lot of confidence,” Pecorari said. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t know too many of the tracks and didn’t get a lot of track time—I was the ‘new guy.’ From here on, I know all of the tracks well and I’m confident going into the last four races.”

Pecorari is pulling double-duty this weekend, racing in the American Le Mans Series P2 class as well.

“The last four World Challenge races, I’m with the Le Mans team too, so I’ll be running back and forth a lot. I think it really helps me in the Audi, because when you go from a high-speed, high-downforce car like the ALMS car to the sports car like the Audi, everything happens so much slower. It helps you get to the right line and get on the power.

“It’s going well so far, but there’s a long way to go. We know how fast the Mazdas and Acuras are, as well as my other teammates. It’s a good start, though.”

Altenburg ran the second-fastest time of the session in his No. 72 Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development Mazda 6 with a 1:33.864 (86.601 mph), followed closely by both Pierre Kleinubing’s No. 1 Acura Certified Pre-Owned/RealTime Acura TSX and defending race winner Chip Herr’s No. 17 STaSIS/Clear Capital/Fred Baker Audi A4, who turned identical times of 1:33.897 (86.571 mph).

Michael Galati, of Olmsted, Ohio, was fifth fastest in his No. 95 Mazda North America/Tindol Mazda 6 with a fast time of 1:33.943 (86.529 mph).

Ian Baas (Audi A4), point leader Randy Pobst (Mazda 6), Peter Cunningham (Acura TSX), Kuno Wittmer (Acura RSX) and Charles Espenlaub (Mazda 6) completed the top 10, all of which were within 0.785-second of Pecorari’s fast lap.

The final practice before Saturday morning’s qualifying session is scheduled for this evening at 7:20 p.m. (EDT). Live timing and session notes can be accessed via the SCCA Pit Board at www.world-challenge.com.

1, (19), Adam Pecorari, Aspon, Pa., Audi A4, 1:33.533, 86.908.

2, (72), Jeff Altenburg, Ellicott City, Md., Mazda 6, 1:33.864, 86.601.

3, (1), Pierre Kleinubing, Coconut Creek, Fla., Acura TSX, 1:33.897, 86.571.

4, (17), Chip Herr, Lititz, Pa., Audi A4, 1:33.897, 86.571.

5, (95), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Mazda 6, 1:33.943, 86.529.

6, (18), Ian Baas, Noblesville, Ind., Audi A4, 1:34.088, 86.395.

7, (73), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Mazda 6, 1:34.098, 86.386.

8, (42), Peter Cunningham, Grafton, Wis., Acura TSX, 1:34.136, 86.351.

9, (44), Kuno Wittmer, Montreal, Quebec, Acura RSX, 1:34.278, 86.221.

10, (97), Charles Espenlaub, Lutz, Fla., Mazda 6, 1:34.318, 86.185.

11, (29), James Sofronas(T), Newport Beach, Calif., BMW 325Ci, 1:34.529, 85.992.

12, (64), Andrew Wojteczko(R), Caledon, Ontario, Lexus IS 300, 1:34.542, 85.980.

13, (43), Brandon Davis, Denver, Colo., Acura TSX, 1:34.558, 85.966.

14, (8), Jason Martinelli(R), Roxbury, Conn., BMW 325Ci, 1:34.706, 85.832.

15, (37), Joey Hand, Sacramento, Calif., BMW 325i, 1:34.898, 85.658.

16, (34), Nick Esayian(T), Encinitas, Calif., Acura TSX, 1:34.936, 85.624.

17, (74), Roberto Santos(R), Monterrey Mexico, Mazda 6, 1:35.127, 85.452.

18, (96), Charlie Putman(T), Denver, Colo., Mazda 6, 1:37.287, 83.554.

19, (24), Jim Osborn(T), Ooltewah, Tenn., Volkswagen Jetta TDI, 1:37.371, 83.482.

20, (65), Stan Wilson(R), Mount Juliet, Tenn., Lexus IS 300, 1:37.751, 83.158.

21, (61), Justin Pritchard(R), Grandville, Ohio, Toyota Celica GTS, 1:39.450, 81.737.

22, (49), Branden Peterson(T), Breckenridge, Colo., Acura TSX, 2:42.493, 50.025.

23, (38), Seth Thomas(T), Cumming, Ga., BMW 325i, 4:17.382, 31.582.

24, (16), Phil Parlato(T), Commack, N.Y., BMW 325i, no time.

25, (31), Jameson Riley, Wilton, Conn., Volvo S40, no time.

26, (60), Fred Pignataro(T), East Northport, N.Y., BMW 325i, no time.