Utah: Series practice one report

Wittmer, Cunningham and Mosing Top Opening World Challenge Practice at Miller

Tooele, Utah (October 2, 2010) -- Kuno Wittmer, of Montreal, opened the Toyo Tires Utah Grand Prix Presented by Bondurant by leading the World Challenge Championships GT class during Saturday morning's practice. Peter Cunningham, of Milwaukee, Wis., and Jeff Mosing, of Autsin, Texas, led the GTS and Touring Car classes, respectively.

Wittmer posted a best time of 1:58.317 (92.740 mph) during the 45-minute practice session for Sunday's season finale in his No. 13 Dodge Motorsports Dodge Viper. A Dodge Viper has won the GT class at the last two World Challenge appearances at Miller Motorsports Park.

Trailing Wittmer by 0.824-second is Andy Pilgrim, of Boca Raton, Fla., who captured the win in the previous round at VIRginia International Raceway in the No. 8 K-Pax Racing Volvo S60. Pilgrim posted a best time of 1:59.141 (92.099 mph).

James Sofronas, of Newport Beach, Calif., was the third different manufacturer in the top-three during the session, driving the No. 14 GMG Porsche 911 GT3. Sofronas completed his best lap around the 15-turn, 3.048-mile Outer Course at Miller Motorsports Park in a time of 1:59.528 (91.801 mph).

2010 GT Drivers' Champion Randy Pobst was fourth with a best time of 1:59.843 (91.559 mph) in the No. 6 K-Pax Racing Volvo S60, followed by Jeff Courtney in the No. 99 Kenda Tires Dodge Viper with a best time of 2:00.132 (91.339 mph).

Cunningham, the newly-crowned 2010 GTS Drivers' Champion, led his class in the No. 43 Acura/RealTime Racing Acura TSX with a best time of 2:08.327 (85.466 mph). He was followed by a pair of Ford Mustang FR500S machines driving by Ben Crosland (No. 25 RPMotorsports Ford Mustang FR500S) and George Winkler (No. 27 Winkler Automotive Service Ford Mustang FR500S). Crosland's best time was 2:10.290 (84.218 mph), with Winkler just behind with a time of 2:10.292 (84.217 mph).

Cunningham's teammate, Nick Esayian, was fourth in his No. 34 Acura/RealTime Racing Acura TSX with a time of 2:10.505 (84.079 mph). Kyle Kelley posted a best time of 2:10.640 (83.992 mph) in the No. 79 UPR.com/Jamison Eng Chevrolet Corvette to complete the top five in the GTS class.

Mosing turned a lap of 2:13.969 (81.905 mph) early in the 45-minute session behind the wheel of his No. 08 Frank's International Mazda RX-8 at the same track that he earned a career-best second place finish in the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup season finale just a couple of weeks ago. His best time came just before mechanical difficulties ended his session after just 20 minutes.

Pierre Kleinubing, who is second on the all-time World Challenge wins list, makes his first Series appearance this season and posted the second-quickest time in the Touring Car class. Kleinubing lapped the circuit in a time of 2:14.303 (81.701 mph) behind the wheel of his No. 1 Mazda/Cybernation MAZDASPEED3.

Eric Meyer (No. 32 XOWii/Samaritan's Feet/Delvira Mazda RX-8) was third with a time of 2:14.967 (81.299 mph), followed by Tom Lepper (No. 36 DG-Spec/Scion/TRD/Lepper & Associates Scion tC) with a best time of 2:15.539 (80.956 mph).

The World Challenge Championships GT, GTS and Touring Car classes return to practice later Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. MDT in preparation for Sunday's season finale.

-source: scca pro racing