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Team GTI

The North Carolina Homecoming Tour

Tentative Calendar and Event Report 2009
Last updated 11 April, 2010

Road Atlanta
Braselton, GA
21-22 February
Sports Car Club of America
6 hour enduro/SARRC/ProIT'

Atlantic Enduro Cup - Round 1

This inaugural 6-hour enduro at Road Atlanta should be a great event, with the added dimension of potential winter weather. This is the first of three events that will count toward the Atlantic Enduro Cup. SARRC and ProIT sprint races are a bonus.

Breaking News (15 February) - Unfortunately, we were unable to find a codriver interested in this event, so it has been scrubbed from our schedule.

Virginia International Raceway
Alton, VA
7-8 March
Sports Car Club of America
SARRC/ECR/ECR

A pair of short "enduros" make this a great opportunity for early-season track time, at Conover Motor Sports' home track.

Breaking News (22 February) - Uncertainties in the economy are hitting racers pretty hard, and CMS Team GTI is no exception. Unfortunate though it may be, the "real world" has conspired to prevent us from running this event.

Virginia International Raceway
Alton, VA
9-10 May
Sports Car Club of America
Double SARRC

Kirk and his little blue Golf took a double victory at this event in 2008. It's always well attended and VIR is a wonderful facility, so the team looks forward to this one each year.

Breaking News (1 May) - Unfortunately, challenges including a new job for Team GTI car owner Kirk Knestis and a lack of codrivers able to commit to the Summit Point 12 hours are going to prevent the team from attending the May VIR SCCA event, the enduro in June, or the Regional at the Rock later that same month.

Summit Point Motorsports Park
Summit Point, WV
12-13 June
Sports Car Club of America
12 Hours at the Point 12-hour enduro

Team GTI returns to Summit Point for a fifth time, having won ITB honors in 2005 and 2008. Current plans have Phil Phillips scheduled to join Kirk Knestis for his fifth 12 Hours at the Point.

Breaking News (1 May) - Dropped from the schedule.

Rockingham Raceway
Hamlet, NC
27-28 June
Sports Car Club of America
Restricted Regional

Having missed the Rock SCCA Regional in 2008, the team is excited to go back this season. Racing on this historic oval is an interesting challenge, and offers great spectator opportunities for guests and crew members.

Breaking News (1 May) - Dropped from the schedule.

Mid Ohio Sports Car Course
Lexington , OH
31 July - 2 August
Sports Car Club of America
3rd Annual IT SPEC*tacular

A less-than-stellar Mid Ohio debut was a low spot for the CMS crew in 2008. Watch for them to come back this season to improve on their rough first visit to this challenging venue.

Breaking News (10 May) - In an effort to get the Conover Motor Sports tuned Golf out this season, plans are afoot to field a special guest driver in the IT SPEC*tacular and season-ending ARRC. Stay tuned for more news.

Carolina Motorsports Park
Kershaw, SC
15-16 August
Atlantic Enduro Cup - Round 2

The second leg of the Atlantic Enduro Cup, this is an inaugural endurance event at CMP. Tough on brakes and tires, this track will be a challenge over a distance.

Breaking News (July) - Dropped from the schedule.

Nelson Ledges Road Course
Garrettsville, OH
22-23 August
Sports Car Club of America
12-hour enduro

The 24-hour Longest Day at Nelson Ledges, site of Team GTI's first round-the-clock class win, has been shortened for 2009, to "only" 12 hours. While an increased schedule of at-track race support activities will keep Phil Phillips away from some other Team GTI enduros this year, expect to see him on board for this one.

Breaking News (July) - Dropped from the schedule. The economy continues to impact the racing business just like the rest of the world, so we were unable to secure codrivers for this event.

Rockingham Raceway
Hamlet, NC
12-13 September
Sports Car Club of America
Restricted Regional

A second visit to the famous Rock in one season! The racing should be excellent and the community is very hospitable to visiting racers.

Breaking News (July) - Event cancelled by SCCA.

Virginia International Raceway
Alton, VA
31 October - 1 November
Sports Car Club of America
Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour enduro

A Conover Motor Sports/Team GTI favorite, going back to their 2004 debut. Greg Amy made his seventh enduro start with the team, joining Kirk Knestis at this classic endurance event. New addition Bob Rothstein was one of the three drivers in the entry that stole the class win from Team GTI by 45 seconds in the 2008 VIR 13-hours.

Sadly, a return of axle and gearbox woes resulted in "Pablo" the Golf out of spares and parked before the end of the race. However, the team finished enough laps to be counted as a finisher and, due to even worse luck for the other ITB entry, still secured a class victory. More story and pictures are available here.


Photo ©2007 Ryan Jenkins

Road Atlanta
Braselton, GA
6-8 November
Sports Car Club of America
16th Annual American Road Race of Champions (ARRC)

Team GTI welcomed NE Region ITA driver Anthony Ruddy as guest driver for the prestigious American Road Race of Champions sprint race, with support from mystery author Lisa Gardner. Ruddy had a troublefree run to a solid 7th of 13 entries in his first visit to Road Atlanta.

Team owner and enduro specialist Kirk Knestis also entered the 3-hour ARRC "enduro" with longtime Team GTI codriver Greg Amy. The final broken gearbox of the season left the team stranded just over half way, posting Team GTI's first-ever DNF. The team is looking forward to a new season.

Last updated 11 April, 2010

Project GTI is headquartered at Conover Motor Sports, Burlington, NC
All photos © Copyright Kirk Knestis, unless otherwise indicated

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