Laguna Seca A Welcome Challenge for Chevy Cobalts

[Ming]

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Laguna Seca A Welcome Challenge for Chevy Cobalts
www.whowon.com

DETROIT, Mich. -- After almost a month hiatus, the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series moves to the famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for another 400 kilometer event (with a 2.5-hour time limit). The challenging track, with its 2.238 miles of tight turns, elevation changes and the notorious 'Corkscrew' is a handful for any car, but the ST-class No. 01 Georgian Bay Motorsports Cobalt of Jamie Holtom and Ken Wilden have had success here in the past and team owner Mike Kuznicki thinks the setup of the car works well at Laguna Seca.

"Last year we ended up placing first and second in our class here," said Kuznicki, who will field only one car here this year. "What it really comes down to is the track really suits the style of car that we're racing. We're looking forward to doing well this year even though we've had series-mandated power reductions. It's a technical track and the drivers love it. They need to be very precise on their lines, but when they are our car is very fast there. I think we'll have a pretty good shot.

"We've been doing a lot of testing on various components to help us with (our power reductions). We're not going to gain everything back that we lost but we're well on our way to getting some of it back. There's going to be a lot of competition this weekend; they've been strong so far and there are a number of cars that do well here besides us. It's promising to be a very good race."

A brand-new team which has yet to race in the KONI Challenge but already has experience at Laguna Seca is the team of the 06 Project Motorsports Cobalt sponsored by Airport Chevrolet and Unique Fabrications. Co-driver Derek DeBoer has had formal race training at the track and teammates Tom and Mallory Smurzynski have driven at Laguna Seca. This will be the first time, however, for their Chevy Cobalt to run here.

Source: http://www.whowon.com/Results.asp?Tr...StoryID=220132

[Xenon]

Can't really say I'm a big fan of the SS, but now that the SS is being discontinued, will it affect racing at all?

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Xenon

Can't really say I'm a big fan of the SS, but now that the SS is being discontinued, will it affect racing at all?

I've wondered that myself. There was some talk about a year ago about the Solstice racing in what was the Grand Am Cup ST Class (in addition to Showroom Stock B SCCA racing), now this, the Koni Challenge.

Perhaps the Solstice will replace the Cobalt SS in the series next year? Or the SS will soldier on until a turbocharged Cobalt arrives...?