GMG Racing comes out swinging in World Challenge at St. Petersburg

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03-30-2010 | 05:02 PM

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GMG Racing comes out swinging in World Challenge at St. Petersburg

James Sofranos in the #14 GMG car sponsored in part by Teamspeed.com. Photo credit SCCA World Challenge

March 30, 2010 (Santa Ana, Calif.) – GMG Racing got their 2010 World Challenge season off in almost the perfect way as two of the team’s Porsche 911 GT3’s crossed the finish line in St. Petersburg first and second on Sunday, grabbing their first win of the year.

Dino Crescentini, in the No.4 Centric Parts/Stoptech/GMG Porsche 911 GT3 led teammate and team owner James Sofronas in the No.14 GMG Porsche 911 GT3 for the first one-two finish in the team’s history. Adding to GMG’s tally on the weekend was Sofronas’ strong third-place finish in Saturday’s season opener, for a total of three podium finishes on the weekend as well as the championship points lead for Sofronas.

2009 World Challenge Rookie of the Year, William Ziegler, had a difficult weekend as contact on both days thwarted his progress. His race on Saturday only lasted to the first turn, when he was caught up in a crash, while Sunday he was able to bring the No.05 Swisher Racing/GMG Porsche 911 GT3 home in 12th place.

Dino Crescentini earned his third career World Challenge win this weekend in St. Petersburg. Photo credit SCCA World Challenge

Crescentini’s win was a welcome reversal after his race on Saturday ended prematurely with an electrical problem, but he made the most of his second-place starting position on Sunday as he converted it into the lead exiting turn one. Behind him, Sofronas had a malfunction with the launch control of his Porsche, leaving him to make up positions throughout the race. He made it up to third before a yellow-flag, which he used to pass the Volvo S60 of Andy Pilgrim into turn 1. From then on, it was a GMG one-two to the checkered flag.

“Coming out of St. Pete with a win, three podiums, and the points lead is a great way to get our season started,” said Sofronas. “After Dino’s problem on Saturday, the team worked hard to give him a great car for Sunday and they did; but Dino had to drive the perfect race to win, and he did.”

“St. Peterburg was an amazing way to start the season,” said Fabryce Kutyba of GMG Racing. “Dino’s victory and James’ two podiums once again showed the advantage of the GMG World Challenge (WC) line of Porsche performance products and Stoptech braking systems. We look forward to seeing what Dino, William and James can do with their Porsches at the next race in Long Beach.”

GMG Racing will be in action next at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 16-18. The team will compete in both the American Le Mans Series race, in GT-C, as well as with their three-car team in World Challenge. Sofronas is the defending winner of the race in Long Beach, and expects a renewed battle between the GMG Porsches and the Volvos.

“Long Beach will be a great show for the fans,” said Sofronas. “We know the Volvos are fast, but so are our GMG Porsches, as well as the Vipers and the Nissan GT-R’s. It could be anyone’s race but we have won there in the past and we’ll be aiming to put the GMG Porsches in the winner’s circle again.”

The races from St. Petersburg will air on April 18 on VERSUS from 2:00pm – 3:30pm.

About Global Motorsports Group
Headquartered in Orange County, California, GMG is one of the country’s premier performance shops for European cars, in addition to a top racing team that competes in Speed World Challenge, American Le Mans, Patron GT3 Challenge, in addition to supporting its customers at local club races and track days. To learn more about GMG and its line of performance parts and service for Porsches as well as other European cars, visit www.gmgracing.com.