|
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Brazilian Pierre Kleinubing set the pace in SCCA Speed World Challenge Touring Car practice Friday in preparation for Sunday's Puerto Rico Grand Prix at the Isla Grande Airport temporary circuit. Speed Touring Car point leader Bill Auberlen, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Jeff Altenburg, of Ellicott City, Md., completed the top three.
In the morning SCCA Speed Touring Car practice session Shauna Marinus, of Folsom, Calif., led the session turning in the fast time of 1:17.094 (75.098 mph). However, in the brutally hot afternoon session Kleinubing, driving the No. 42 RealTime Racing Acura RSX-S, set the fastest Speed Touring Car lap of the day with a 1:15.896 (75.893 mph) on the 10-turn, 1.6-mile airport road course.
"The track is pretty fun," Kleinubing said. "I was a little concerned this morning when I was walking around [the track] and it seemed pretty tight. And, I thought our car was going to be a little under powered coming off the corners. But, it opens up quite a bit actually. I think with the way the [Acura] RSX-S puts the power down it should be pretty good. I'm impressed with the work the team has done so far."
Driving the No. 93 Turner Motorsport/H&R Spring BMW 325i, Auberlen, who was fourth quickest in the morning session, turned in the second-fastest lap in the afternoon session with a 1:17.123 (74.685 mph) to give him the second best combined time. Auberlen clinched the SCCA Speed Touring Car Drivers' Championship following the Round Eight race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
|
