Mosport Bobby Archer, Viper take GT class

CANADA--Bobby Archer, of Ft. Worth, Texas, avenged his mechanical difficulties in the Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship season opener by winning Round Two at Mosport International Raceway. Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio, and David Schardt, of Dayton, Ohio, completed the top-three. Defending series champion Archer, who finished 30th at the March 30 season-opener at Lowe's Motor Speedway, started second for the 50-minute timed event, and took the lead from polesitter Peter Cunningham on lap two. Despite challenges from both Schardt and Galati, Archer held on to a 1.650 second win in the No. 32 IQuest/Viper Speed Dodge Viper GTS, averaging 79.077 mph. "I'm very pleased about the win," said Archer, who sits fifth on the all-time wins' list, with eight. "We were really confident that we would win here, and it's great to do it with a new sponsor in IQuest. I drove my butt off today. I drove every lap like it was a qualifying lap. This is a great series. You can't win every race, so you have to drive to get points when you don't win." Driving the brand new No. 9 Champion Audi S4 Competition, Galati started third, and utilized the car's all-wheel drive to get power off of corners. The final third of the race, Galati feverishly held off Schardt's No. 94 Hikari Racing/Wheel Source Porsche 911 GT3 Cup to record the Audi's best-ever finish. "All the restarts were great," said Galati. "Having that four wheel drive really helps. I had a good run on Bobby on the one, but that new pit wall ruined any chance I had. We really had nothing for Bobby today, but the more I drive the car, the more comfortable I become." Schardt also redeemed a disappointing first round, in which a crash took him out of third on the last lap. His Porsche seemed to have more power than the Audi going up the back straightaway, but he couldn't get by in the late stages of the race, settling for third. The car was really great at the start," said Schardt. "As the race went on, it went away. I wasn't nearly as comfortable as it was at Charlotte. The car likes to be really stiff and track conditions here wouldn't allow us to run it as stiff as we wanted. We're happy with third though." Jeff McMillin, of Erie, Pa., moved from 10th on the grid to fourth, earning the Borla Performance Award for the drive of the day. Cunningham, of W. Bend, Wis., finished fifth. The race was slowed by two cautions for eight laps. No drivers were injured in any incidents. Race one winner Bill Cooper, of Bozeman, Mt., continues to lead the point standings after finishing sixth. Following Cooper's 54 markers is Cunningham (45), McMillin (41), Schardt and Justin Jackson (39 each).

-SCCA/SCCA Pro Racing-