The Audi R8 is a fast car. That’s just a fact. But driven at speed, by a professional driver with a V10 engine tuned for super-sonic satisfaction, it’s a whole ‘nother kind of fast. The GMG Audi R8, owned and driven by James Sofranas, is already strutting its stuf. In March, the team won at the Streets of St. Petersburg in the GT class of the Pirelli World Challenge Series and they’re ready to rumble again in Long Beach on April 21st, concurrent with the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix. So it’s no surprise that a hot lap around the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix track in a bolted in press seat was the thrill of a lifetime for those media members lucky enough to wedge their butts into that very tiny seat.
The Audi zipped through the concrete lined street course, with nary a care, save for scaring the crap out of its passenger (in the best way possible) accelerating, turning, and stopping with a breathless speed and ease that made for one giddy reporter (or rather one in a series of giddy reporters at this well-attended press event).
Initially, the Audi was paired with the Andy Lee driven GTS class Camaro, but unfortunately, the car broke down on the warm up laps while the press was waiting. Having spent the morning watching that team prep and add yet another sticker to the hood of the black and yellow Camaro, it was a disappointmet to not get to ride the course with the friendly, and competive, Lee.
Both cars will be leading their divisions at the upcoming let of the Pirelli World Challenge, along with the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car and Touring car B-Spec classes, all of which are 50-minute sprints. That means speed from start to finish – no pit stops! This series will feature vets like Andy Pilgrim, Randy Pobst, Johnny O’Connell and Peter Cunningham (recognized as the all-time winning North American professional road racer) and young guns like Shea Holbrook, Michael Cooper, and Alec Udell. They will all be driving the racing versions of production cars, which adds a personal element to the event – who doesn’t want to root for a car that so closely resembles one’s own daily driver?
The GTS class is new to the series and features platforms like the the Acura TSX, Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z, and the Porsche Cayman S. GT features platforms like the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Corvette C6, Volvo S60, Dodge Viper, Audi R8, Ferrari F430, and the Porsche GT3 Cup.
The Pirelli World Challenge is sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing and races at North America’s premier road and temporary street courses.
For those who can’t be there in person, the races are broadcast on NBC Sports Network or streamed via www.world-challengetv.com. Now there’s no excuse to not be part of the action!
