Skeen Takes Pirelli World Challenge Win In Record Breaking Fashion
The second day of the Sports Car Doubleheader Weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park saw track records fall and the first races of the weekend.
In the Pirelli World Challenge Championship, Mike Skeen of Charlotte, NC set the track record in qualifying (1:18.598) and never looked back. Skeen also set the track record for fastest race lap with a time of 1:20.486. Finishing second in the #3 Cadillac CTS-V was Flowery Branch, GA native Johnny O’Connell of American Le Mans Series fame, 6.655 seconds off the pace. Steve Ott of Houston, TX was third in the GT class.
The GTS Class saw Michael Galati from Olmstead, OH take the top spot while his Kia Motors teammate Mark Wilkins of Aurora, ON finished second. Both drivers set new track records for the class.
In the Touring Class, American driver Jeff Altenburg won the first of three weekend races while Markham, ON native Gary Kwok took the top spot in the second.
Andre Rapone of Thornhill, ON won both races in the new B-Spec class in his Durabond Racing Honda Fit.
Saturday's racing also saw the Ontario Formula Ford Championship hold their first of two races this weekend. In the F1600-A Class, Jack Mitchell Jr. of Clarendon Hills, IL took the Round 1 win over Orangeville, ON native Caitlin Johnston by 1.273 seconds.
In the final race of the day, Skeen also took the checkered flag in the Porsche 944 Cup. Mike Mallais of Scarborough was second.
Sunday's schedule begins with qualifying in the morning. After lunch the final four races of the weekend will take place, with Pirelli World Challenge and Ontario Formula Ford holding their second races of the weekend. Porsche 944 Cup will hold two rounds to wrap the on-track action.
Ryan Chalmers, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
ryan@ctmpark.com 1-800-866-1072 (office) 905-260-1711 (cell)
Photo – Mike Skeen leads the Pirelli World Challenge on route to a decisive victory.
Photo Credit – John Walker
BOWMANVILLE, ON - Results from Saturday’s 28-lap, 68.852-mile Pirelli World Challenge combined GT and GTS Round Eight race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with finishing position, class, starting position in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, laps, distance behind winner and reason out (if any).
1. GT, (1), Mike Skeen, Charlotte, N.C., Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 28.
2. GT, (4), Johnny O'Connell, Flowery Branch, Ga., Cadillac CTS-V.R, 28, -6.655.
3. GT, (
, Steve Ott, Houston, Texas, Porsche 911 GT3, 28, -7.973.
4. GT, (6), Lawson Aschenbach, Darnestown, Md., Porsche 911 GT3, 28, -8.805.
5. GT, (7), Tony Gaples, Lincolnshire, Ill., Chevrolet Corvette, 28, -15.138.
6. GT, (10), Brett Sandberg, Allendale, N.J., Porsche 911 GT3, 28, -19.760.
7. GT, (9), Fred Roberts, Toronto, Ontario, Dodge Viper, 28, -23.745.
8. GT, (11), Madison Snow(R), Salt Lake City, Utah, Porsche 911 GT3, 28, -29.109.
9. GT, (12), Jason Daskalos, Albuquerque, N.M., Nissan GTR, 28, -31.707.
10. GT, (5), Andy Pilgrim, Boca Raton, Fla., Cadillac CTS-V.R, 27, -1 lap.
11. GT, (2), Randy Pobst, Gainesville, Ga., Volvo S60, 9, Fire.
12. GT, (3), Alex Figge, Denver, Colo., Volvo S60, 1, Mech.
13. GTS, (13), Michael Galati, Olmsted, Ohio, Kia Optima, 28.
14. GTS, (14), Mark Wilkins, Aurora, Ontario, Kia Optima, 28, -.278.
15. GTS, (19), Paul Brown, Covina, Calif., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 28, -.794.
16. GTS, (15), Aaron Povoledo, Toronto, Ontario, Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 28, -1.561.
17. GTS, (17), Alec Udell, The Woodlands, Texas, Ford Mustang Boss 302R, 28, -2.220.
18. GTS, (16), Jack Baldwin, Marrietta, Ga., Porsche Cayman S, 28, -4.069.
19. GTS, (18), Peter Cunningham, Milwaukee, Wis., Acura TSX, 28, -6.047.
20. GTS, (21), Richard Golinello, Tampa, Fla., Ford Mustang FR500S, 28, -9.128.
21. GTS, (20), Andy Lee(R), Colorado Springs, Colo., Chevrolet Camaro, 28, -9.281.
22. GTS, (24), Karl Poeltl, Knoxville, Tenn., Porsche 996, 27, -1 lap.
23. GTS, (22), Brad Adams, New Orleans, La., Ford Mustang FR500 C, 27, -1 lap.
24. GTS, (26), Harry Curtin(R), Buffalo, N.Y., Chevrolet Camaro, 27, -1 lap.
25. GTS, (27), Ric Bushey(R), Virginia Beach, Va., Nissan 370 Z, 27, -1 lap.
26. GTS, (29), Ernie Jakubowski, Oakville, Ontario, Porsche Cayman S, 27, -1 lap.
27. GTS, (28), Greg Shaffer, Harrisonburg, Va., Nissan 370 Z, 21, Mech.
28. GTS, (25), Steven Goldman(R), Woodcliff Lake, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 7, Mech.
29. GTS, (30), Nick Esayian, San Diego, Calif., Acura TSX, 6, Mech.
30. GTS, (23), Dane Moxlow, Grosse Ile, Mich., Ford Mustang Boss 302S, 0, DNS.
Time of race: 50 minutes, 02.894 seconds.
Average speed: 82.542 mph
Margin of victory: 6.655 Seconds
Lap leaders: Laps 1-2, #6 Randy Pobst; laps 3-28, #02 Mike Skeen
Fastest race lap: #02 Mike Skeen, 1:20.486 (109.986 mph)
Fastest qualifier: #02 Mike Skeen, 1:18.598 (112.628 mph)
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=15586.msg102496#msg102496
