Today was the first practice session for the Road America
Road Race Challenge Road American Road Race Challenge of the American LeMans
Series and through this initial practice session, the two teams running 2013
SRT Viper GTS-R continued to struggle as the teams learn the new cars as they
go along.
There are 13 cars entered in the GT Class of the American
LeMans Series event this weekend at Road America but after the first round of
practice – the two SRT Viper GTS-R teams find themselves at the bottom of the
timing list.
The #91 Viper GTS-R sponsored
by Forza Motorsport 4 and piloted by Kumo Wittmer and Dominic Farnbacher turned
in a best time of 2:11.393 while the #93 Viper sponsored by Pennzoil Ultra and
piloted by Marc Goossens and Tommy Kendall ran a best lap of 2:11.593.These times placed the Viper race teams last
and second to last within the GT Class – a group which was led by the #45 Porsche
911 GT3 RSR driven by Jörg Bergmeister
and Patrick Long with a time of 2:06.918.While both Vipers were almost 5 seconds
behind the top driver in the class, they were only a second behind the next
closest vehicle in the class.
This is a disappointing outcome for the first practice
session from the second ALMS race for the 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R teams but the
good news is that both cars turned in competitive laps without any mechanical
failures.Both Viper teams ran into
mechanical issues at their first event two weeks ago with the #91 team being
unable to qualify due to engine problems but through the first session in
Wisconsin – both cars withstood the wear and tear.
Both 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R teams will be on the track
tomorrow morning at 10:25 am for the first official practice session being held
before the afternoon practice and qualifying session.Stay tuned to DodgeForum for more coverage
from the Road America Road Race Challenge as the new Viper race cars attempt to
improve through the end of the 2012 ALMS season.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
