Pirelli World Challenge: Trio of Audis in the top 6 at Long Beach

By Johan Laubscher

The Pirelli World Challenge headed to Long Beach this weekend. An army of Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took part, a total of seven cars from three different teams. 

GMG Racing entered five Audi R8 LMS ultra cars, along with single car entries from JCR Motorsports and the debuting CRP Racing.

The GMG Racing cars were driven by James Sofronas (#14), Andrew Palmer (#21), Bret Curtis (#32), Brent Holden (#44) and Bill Ziegler (#95). The #99 JCR Motorsports R8 LMS ultra was driven by Jeff Courtney and Mike Skeen was behind the wheel of the new #2 CRP Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.

RS Werkes rounded out the Audi entries with their #01 Audi TT RS in the GTS class, driven by Don Istook.

Andrew Palmer continued his strong form and was once again he was the highest Audi qualifier, placing fifth overall on the grid. James Sofronas was eighth and Mike Skeen was ninth, rounding out the three Audis within the top ten.

The race itself concluded with that trio of Audis finishing within the top six. They were lead by Andrew Palmer in fourth, James Sofronas in fifth and Mike Skeen in sixth. 

Jeff Courtney finished twelfth, Bret Curtis in fifteenth, Brent Holden in sixteenth and Bill Ziegler in nineteenth. Don Istook finished thirty-fourth overall in the #01 Audi TT RS and fourteenth in the GTS class.

Round three of the Pirelli World Challenge will be hosted at Barber Motorsports Park from 25-27 April.

Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge