Auberlen--who moved into a four-way tie for
eighth in overall KONI Challenge Series career victories--took advantage of a
slight mishap by Spencer Pumpelly on Lap 86 and took the lead when Spencer
Pumpelly slid wide and off the racing surface coming onto the front
straightaway. Bill Auberlen masterfully worked his way through traffic during
the waning laps to win by 3.760 seconds in the two-and-a-half hour, 138-lap
race.
In only his second KONI Challenge Series start,
Peter Ludwig posted his second podium finish, this coming at the home track for
the New Paltz, N.Y. resident. Peter Ludwig and his teammate Spencer Pumpelly,
in the No. 49, Porsche 997 drove a hard fought battle.
Finishing third were No. 41 TRG Carlson
Porsche/DigiTrust Group Porsche 997 co-drivers Andy Lally and Ted Ballou, who
started 35th in the 36-car field. Ballou started the race, and Lally took over
during the early stages, making up a significant number of positions due to the
car's starting position and after Ballou was penalized for making unnecessary
contact with another car during the first 20 minutes. Lally took the car to
third on Lap 75--during the second round of pit stops--and was never challenged
for the spot, finishing more than 20 seconds ahead of fourth-place.
Three caution periods slowed the race's pace,
with only one coming as a result of an incident.
The Koni Challenge next racing event finds them
at Morsport International Raceway, June 15 – 17, 2007.
LAKEVILLE,
Conn. (May 28, 2007) -- No. 96
Turner Motorsport BMW M3 driver Bill Auberlen survived a late challenge from
Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 49 Marcus Motorsports Porsche 997 to win Monday's
Grand-Am KONI Challenge Grand Sport (GS) race at Lime Rock Park, giving Bill
Auberlen and co-driver Chris Gleason their second consecutive GS victory at the
1.53-mile, seven-turn track.
