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Fiat is well on course to win a track title
this weekend as Jonathan Start, carrying a
41 point advantage, is looking to wrap up
the World Challenge Touring Car B-spec
series title at California's Sonoma road
course in his Fiat 500. |
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The 2012
season championship is on the line this weekend at
Sonoma, California, in the World Challenge Touring Car
B-spec series. Michigan-native Jonathan Start is looking
to wrap up the B-spec title at the California road
course in the No. 00 Fiat 500.
Start carries a 41-point advantage into the weekend as
B-spec competitors will challenge the 12-turn, 1.99-mile
road course three times in two days – a pair of
25-minute timed events separated by a 15-minute break on
Saturday and a 40-minute timed event on Sunday will
complete the nine-race 2012 schedule.
“This is the first time I’ve raced here at Sonoma,”
Start said. “We’re looking for strong finishes in all
three races and hopefully we can bring home the
championship. That doesn’t mean that I’m not going for
the top spot. I’m going to push hard.”
In April, Start got the inaugural season of Touring Car
B-spec competition off to a fast start by posting
back-to-back wins at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah and
followed up with a fourth the next day. The series
travelled across the border in June to Canada (Canadian
Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, Ontario) for the
second event weekend where Start posted three
third-place finishes.
“The Fiat 500, it’s been phenomenal,” said Start who is
racing his first season in the pro ranks “The
performance and durability has been unbelievable. I
really enjoyed racing this category, and I hope the
B-spec series takes off. It’s just so much fun to race
this fast Fiat 500.”
Modifications for racing in the series are limited to
shocks, springs and the required safety equipment.
“This inaugural season of B-spec competition is a
testament of the solid engineering and durability behind
the Fiat 500,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of the Fiat for
North America. “We’re looking forward to the exciting
conclusion of the Pirelli World Challenge season this
weekend and we wish Jonathan the best of luck as he
focuses on bringing home the championship.”
SRT Road Racing Manager Gary Johnson is looking for a
continuation of the high performance level at Sonoma.
“The Fiat 500 should be very strong at Sonoma this
weekend,” he said. “Jonathan had a very quick start this
season with two wins at the opening weekend at Miller
Motorsports Park and has been competing extremely hard
ever since. He’s leading the driver championship point
standings and with some good results this weekend in
front of his family members, including his father (Tom),
Jonathan should be able to bring home the first World
Challenge B-spec Championship for the Fiat brand. Our
team has a lot of faith in Jonathan to go out and run
the final three races while being totally focused on the
championship goal.”
Qualifying is scheduled for Today (Friday) at 12:15 p.m.
(Pacific time). The first of Saturday’s back-to-back
B-spec races starts at 4:10 p.m. (Pacific time). Teams
will take a 15-minute break before starting the second
race. Sunday’s race is scheduled to get the green flag
at 9:50 a.m. (Pacific time).
(After 6 of 9 rounds)
1. Jonathan Start 692
2. Craig Capaldi 651
3. Andre Rapone 480
4. Sage Marie 335
5. Jim Kenzie 314
6. Peter Schwartzott Jr. 262
7. Shaun Bailey 252
8. Russell Smith 230
9. Conner Ford 190
10. P.J. Groenke 165
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