Sebring, Florida (14 March) - Champion Racing’s new recruit Randy Pobst earned the Audi Sport North America supported team a magnificent third place on the world motor racing début of the Audi RS 6 “Competition” sedan at the Sebring International Raceway today (FRI). Pobst started his brand new Audi from the front row and made full use of the all-wheel-drive traction to catapult into the lead within moments of the start of the opening SPEED World Challenge GT race.

Randy’s team-mate Michael Galati, World Challenge GT champion for the past two years in Champion’s Audi S4 “Competition”, sliced through in to second place by the first corner from his fifth place grid position but completed the opening lap fourth. Galati lost fifth place on lap four following a spin when his Audi encountered a likely clutch problem while Pobst, who had been demoted to third place on the same lap by Mike Fitzgerald (Porsche), lost another position on the following tour after a brush with Bill Auberlen (BMW) which saw the BMW driver continue in third as Pobst recovered.

Randy was back up to third when Auberlen himself spun on lap eight and ultimately took the checker in third, 15.5seconds behind winner Phil McClure (Corvette), to give Champion Racing and Audi Sport North America a tremendous result in a car that has taken just 15-weeks to build from a raw shell at its Pompano Beach, FL, race facility.

“To earn Champion and Audi a podium on the RS 6’s début makes me very happy and hopefully rewards the crew who have worked incredibly hard over he past three months in building and preparing this car,” remarked Randy. “I used the Quattro drive to good effect at the start and ran as hard as I could but couldn’t keep those guys behind but to finish third is tremendous.”

Galati, having resumed in 24th position after a pit-stop, continued until the closing stages before stopping shortly before the finish. “We’re not certain what the problem was. It’s not the best way to start a successful title defense but I’ve done it before. We’re got a good basic package with the new car and we’ll put the next two months to good effect before the Mosport race in May.”

Sebring International Raceway, 14 March – Race (Champion Racing Audi RS 6 “Competition”)

Michael Galati (43). Born: Alcaralifusi, Messina, Sicily. Lives: North Olmsted, Ohio.

Qualified: 5th (2mins 14.021secs). Race: 25th (not running), 9-laps (fastest lap: 2:17.522, 96.857mph)

Randy Pobst (45). Born: Dayton, Ohio. Lives: Gainesville, Georgia.

Qualified: 2nd (2mins 12.887secs). Race: 3rd, 18-laps (fastest lap: 2:15.652, 98.192mph)