9 Oct -
A
continuing development program has made detailed improvements to the
Audi RS 6 Competition throughout the 10-race season leaving drivers
Randy Pobst and Michael Galati quietly optimistic for the Georgia
encounter.
Pobst lies
second in the championships standings with reigning Speed GT
champion Galati ninth. Randy has powered his 4.2-liter, bi-turbo
Audi to six podium finishes with Michael scoring five top-15
finishes in his similar machine.
Over the
past three years, the Audi Sport North America supported Champion
team has chalked up seven top-eight finishes around the undulating
12-turn, 2.54-mile Road Atlanta course with the Audi S4 Competition.
The
prestige German car manufacturer’s latest all-wheel-drive racing
sedan, the RS 6 achieved a third place earlier in the season at RA.
Michael
Galati:
“Champion
Racing has made some real progress with tire consistency and we’re
hoping these improvements will translate well for our second
appearance at Road Atlanta this season. The Atlanta track would
appear to be well suited to our Audis. I won and finished second at
Atlanta in 2001 in the S4 and had to drive that car here in June
after damaging my RS 6 in a testing accident. Randy showed that the
RS 6 is well suited to the circuit on that occasion and we’ve made a
lot of progress over the past three months so I’m very optimistic
that I can record a top result. I’m really looking forward to this
race.”
Randy
Pobst:
“I love
the track, with its fast, sweeping, hilly corners which can be more
like flying than driving especially through Turns 1 to 5. My
favorite part is the bottom of the Esses because the car generates
lots of g-force swerving through that corner and is very
satisfying. Atlanta's red clay makes it important to stay on the
pavement and off-course excursions are usually permanent -
especially in the wet. I had pole in the corresponding race last
year, and led 15 of the 27-laps here at Atlanta in June before
finishing third. I believe this race will represent our best shot
for another win. The Audi RS6 Competition ran well here in June and
I’m hoping for more of the same.”
Louis Milone,
Champion Racing’s RS 6 Team Leader:
“It is
personally my favorite track in North America and currently most
suits our RS6 - it’s our best chance for our maiden RS 6 win and I’m
very excited. Atlanta was the venue in 2001 where we claimed the
Manufacturers’ and Driver’s Speed titles for Audi and Mike [Galati]
with the S4 Competition. Randy led the Atlanta race in June for
quite some time and finished a strong third. Since the Laguna race,
we have continued to refine the Ohlins shocks and center
differential.”
Timetable
Tues 16
Oct: Testing
Wed 15
Oct: 1015-1035 / 1600-1620 - Practice
Thurs 16
Oct: 1355-1415 - Qualifying
Fri 17
Oct: 1530-1620 - Race