[1]
The Chevrolet Camaro GS.R of Lawson Aschenbach and Kirk Spencer managed to drive its way to the peak of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge’s final day at Daytona International Speedway’s Roar Before The 24. Testing took place last weekend and saw almost thirty Grand Sport (GS) class cars turn out.
[2]Both the turnout and the result bode well for the upcoming Continental Tire Challenge 200, which runs on Friday, January 28 in Daytona Beach, FL. Three Camaro GS.R competitors are currently showing on the entry list. This will be the second year for Camaro participation in the series. Last year’s entrants were showing steadily improving results through the year and a number of podium finishes were recorded.
Regardless, competition can be expected to be strong. Todd Snyder, in the #21 Mustang FR500C, set a benchmark time early in the weekend and topped it again late on Saturday. Several new cars have been approved for competition this year and have teams ready to go. Dodge Challenger, Subaru WRX-STI, Porsche Cayman S and Audi S4 are new for 2011.
While a number of teams packed up their transporters early, due to the approaching winter weather in their home states, the Camaro team stuck kept going and, on Sunday, logged a weekend topping lap time of 1:57.826, at an average speed of 108.771 mph. Todd Snyder, in a Mustang FR500C previously set the high bar with a 1:58.317 (108.319 mph) lap.
[3]
The Grand Am Continental Tire Challenge 200, first of the ten race series, starts at 1:30 p.m. ET, on Friday, January 28.