Details

Category: Latest News

Created on Monday, 09 September 2013 08:35

Click image to download.

• In a repeat performance of Kansas, Jordan Taylor holds off Scott Pruett for victory.

• Mazda captures wins in GX and ST while Porsche claims wins in GT and GS.

• Championships come down to the final race.

Salinas, CA – September 8, 2013.  The anticipation for the Continental Tire Sports Car Festival, powered by Mazda at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca was at a fever pitch heading into Sunday’s races.  With championships on the line, the pressure could be felt up and down pit road and in the end only one thing was determined – the championship titles would have to wait until the season ending race at Lime Rock Park.

Rolex Series Sun, sand and age combined to present all teams with slick track conditions during Sunday’s penultimate race.  While tire management was key, several teams were able to do a stint-and-a-half on a set of Continental tires but new tires were definitely the way to go if you asked the top three teams.  One might have likened Sunday’s Daytona Prototype (DP) race to the movie “Groundhog Day”.  In a scene similar to Kansas, up-and-comer, Jordan Taylor, combined with Max Angelelli to dominate the race in the No. 10 Toshiba Corvette.  In the final 15 minutes, it was Taylor who led veteran Scott Pruett in the No. 01 TELMEX BMW, beating him across the line and increasing his points lead over defending champions, Pruett and Memo Rojas.  Indy Car standouts, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, combined for a third-place finish for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

After a fierce battle throughout the 2.75-hour race, Andy Lally emerged late in the Grand Touring (GT) race, in the No. 44 Magnus Porsche, to claim victory for he and co-driver, John Potter.  The win marked the team’s first win of the 2013 season and launched them into the championship points lead in the GT class.  In GX competition, it was Tom Long and Sylvain Tremblay claiming victory in the No. 70 Mazdaspeed/SpeedSource Mazda 6 at Mazda’s home track.

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series provided plenty of stand-up-in-your-seat action.  While grip was a challenge for all teams, many overcame and put on a spectacular show.  With three laps to go, Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 38 BGB Motorsports/Calcium Pro Porsche Carrera, came through the corkscrew side-by-side with Bill Auberlen in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 vying for the lead.  Pumpelly came out on top and drove on to the Grand Sport (GS) victory and after the race, credited his Continental tires for helping he and Dr. Jim Norman to victory lane.

“We had a really good car even though we were nowhere on the time sheet (in practice) but we had the confidence in our guys, and the tire, to say that this is a good car; everyone is going to have some fade off,” said Pumpelly.  “Then when we did, the tire kind of held on to a nice plateau for a long time.”

A last lap pass gave Andrew Carbonell the win over his Freedom Autosport teammate, Tom Long in Street Tuner (ST) competition.  Carbonell combined with Rhett O’Doski in the No. 26 SemperfiFund.org Mazda MX-5 for the win while Long and his co-driver, Derek Whitis, settled for second.

The GRAND-AM Series finishes up the 2013 season at Lime Rock Park September 27 – 28.  Fans can catch live coverage on Fox Sports 1 and MRN.  Check local listings for times.

Go into the garage with us @continentaltire.

Download this release (Word® doc)