Fans and drivers attending the 10th anniversary Petit Le Mans will be part of the largest celebration in Road Atlanta history. This is also where the all-Porsche series debuted in the spring of 2005. The 2.54 mile track has been completely resurfaced this year and has seen track records set all weekend. Conditions for qualifying were dry, but for race day drivers competed in the wet.

Driver Charles Scardina from Del Ray Beach, FL, in the #33 Ansca Homes Metro Racing Systems Porsche 911 GT3 Cup entry and winner of four races this season, qualified on the pole but was passed by rival Bob Faieta in the #4 CareLevel Racing entry on lap two. “It was really wet in the beginning and then it stopped raining just after the start,” Scardina said. “I thought it might dry out so I decided to ease back and conserve my tires. Thankfully, our guess was right and it dried out. I think his tires just went away so I just stayed back and I was able to capitalize on that in turn twelve. We went into turn one and Bob (Faieta) and I touched and I got very sideways under braking,” said the excited Scardina. “Now I’m standing on the top step and it’s awesome. I’ve got to thank the guy’s at Metro Racing. They gave me a great car right off the trailer. It was perfect. Also thanks to my sponsor Ansca Homes. It was great to come back from a bad race at Mosport.”

Bob Faieta, in the #4 CareLevel Racing Care Level Management entry, was out front for most of the race and seemed to be the favorite to win. “That race was a nail biter from the start,” Faieta said. “I felt pretty comfortable in the middle of the race then I got hung up in some traffic on the front straightaway and the gap was a little closer.

Charlie made a good move on me in turn one and maybe gave me a little Mosport back. I accepted.” The two drivers had contact in the last race at Mosport that resulted in Scardina being knocked out of the race and Faieta being penalized.

Tom Papadopoulos, in the #96 Kelly-Moss Racing entry, is coming off a win and a second place finish at the last round of competition at Mosport. Papadopoulos showed his experience in the wet as he battled with Scardina for second place for
most of the race.

“I was looking forward to a great race and Charles was a gentleman,” said the excited Papadopoulos. “I passed him, then he passed me back. It was fun. Then I thought I better relax a little bit because the two front runners are in a points battle for the championship. Dino (Steiner) got by me but I just stayed out trouble and he spun so I had a great finish. Those Michelins are worth every penny,” Papadopoulos continued. “The boys at Kelly-Moss have done a hell of a job this year. It’s a new season for both of us and I look forward to more in the future. It’s going to be good when we run for a championship.”

The IMSA GT3 Cup by Michelin championship will come down to the last event of the year to be held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Only four points separate the championship battle between Scardina and Faieta, and the competition should be fierce. Faieta is a native of CA and has raced at Laguna Seca in the past. Scardina will have the point advantage but has never raced at Laguna. The last race of the year will also be the longest, at one hour and fifteen minutes.

The final rounds of competition for IMSA GT3 Cup by Michelin will be October 20th and 21st at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA as support for the American Le Mans Series.