New Jersey Motorsports Park – Kuno Wittmer earned his second career pole position at the New Jersey Motorsports Park facility for the second round of the 2009 Touring class SCCA World Challenge season but was denied starting from the first row when the coin toss – a new feature in the series – didn't favour him and relegated the #44 Acura RealTime driver on third row.
Nevertheless, the Montreal driver had a strong start and made up two positions in the first corners of the first lap. He charged to the front with fellow RealTime teammate but could not make ground on the front runners. He was passed once by another car and completed the 27-lap sprint in fourth place. Wittmer is still happy with the outcome since he now stands sixth in the standings, a single point shy from fifth.
" It's a good result considering how difficult it is to pass in New Jersey", said Wittmer. My RealTime Acura was very strong when I earned the pole. But I lost the coin toss and the top five places were inverted. So instead of keeping my first row start, I took to the track on third row. Our team leader (and defending champion) Peter Cunningham started from pole. But I guess that's the game and some day luck will be on my side."
"I carved my way around a few cars at the start and used the slipstream with Peter (Kleinunbing) to follow the leaders but after a few laps we were some two seconds behind and were never able to catch the leaders. This year, some cars (Mazda et Subaru) benefit from extra power and used it on the Jersey stretch. After the Sebring disapointment because I didn't finish, this result has me tied for sixth place but only one point from fifth with one of my favourite round coming in two weeks at Mosport in Canada."
Double duty in Mosport
Kuno and Nick Wittmer will be reunited in Mosport for the maiden round of the Canadian Touring Championship when they steer Honda Civics for the Lombardi Honda Racing team while Kuno will also be entered in his #44 RealTime Acura for the third race of the season from May 15 to 17.
The calendar for both Kunick Autosport drivers is known and brothers Kuno and Nick Wittmer have their work cut out for the season. Kuno is set for every round of the 2009 Touring class SCCA World Challenge with RealTime while Nick will be the Lombardi Honda Racing team leader in the Canadian Touring Championship in a new Civic sedan. Kuno will share the second car with veteran Jean-François Dumoulin.
Source : Michel Poirier-Defoy
