By Tarek Ramchani
A great race 1 for the Audi teams in Pirelli World Challenge at the beautiful Road America circuit. Mike Skeen scored a maiden victory with the Audi R8 LMS ultra from team CRP Racing.
Mike Skeen driving his all black HAWK backed #2 Audi R8 LMS ultra crossed the finish line victorious after a thrilling 23-lap race. The Audi driver was ahead of Robert Thorne driving a McLaren MP4-12C and Tim Bergmeister with a Porsche 997 GT3-R.
Andrew Palmer was the best ranked GMG Racing driver in fifth place with his #21 Audi R8 LMS ultra. Team owner and driver James Sofronas was eighth behind the wheels of #14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra.
Two other Audi drivers performed very well in Race 1, Bill Ziegler and Jeff Courtney. Bill Ziegler driving the #95 Audi R8 LMS ultra from GMG Racing was fourteenth overall and second within the GT-A class. Jeff Courtney with the JCR Motorsport #99 Audi R8 LMS ultra was fifteenth and third within the GT-A class.
Interesting to note the very positive debut of the sister Bentely brand in Pirelli World Challenge. Butch Leitzinger finished Race 1 in a fine sixth place with the Continental GT3 entered by Dyson Racing Team Bentley.
Race 1 results can be seen here.
Race 2 at Road America is set for today with Mike Skeen starting from pole position.
Photo credit: Pirelli World Challenge
