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Team GTI
With RennGruppe Motorsports

Race History and Resume - Kirk Knestis

1984-1985

Team owner and entrant in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Renault Cup


K. Knestis photo - IMSA GT weekend, Portland International Raceway, 1985

1986

Novice Driver, Northwest Region Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Improved Touring C

Highlights include first class win in auto racing (Olympia Washington Airport circuit) and NWR class championship


R. Gasak photo - SCCA Regional, Portland International Raceway, Spring 1986

1987-1990

Driver in a variety SCCA Regional and National sprint races, club enduros, and ESCORT Pro Showroom Stock endurance events in Renault, VW, and Mazda products

Highlights - or disappointments, depending how one looks at it - include numerous 2nd-place class finishes


K. Knestis photo - 1988 Kirk Motorsport promotional package

1990-1993

Driver in nine events in the Northwest Hillclimb Association

Highlights include 1st in class at the Onion Mountain Hillclimb in 1993


J. Culp photo - Doo Wop IV divisional rally, March, 1996

1995-1998

Co-driver in approximately 40 NORPAC Divisional rallies

Highlights include more than 15 class wins, one overall victory, and the 1997 NORPAC Divisional U2 class championship


Photo courtesy Ben's Rally Page - Porter Creek bridge crossing, Capital Forest, Olympia, Washington, c.1998

1999-2000

Driver in two partial seasons of Puget Sound Go Kart Association (PSGKA) racing

 

2008

Driver of the PhilsTireService.com Project GTI

Events
2 ea. SCCA licensing schools
5 ea. SCCA Regional road races
2 ea. THSCC high-performance driving events
THSCC rallycross
Blue Ridge Hillclimb
Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour enduro

Highlights include a class victory - of six cars in ITB - at the VIR 13-hour endurance race

2005

Driver of the PhilsTireService.com Project GTI

Events
3 ea. NASA sprint races
1 ea. 3.5-hour NASA enduro
4 ea. SCCA Regional sprint races
2 ea. high-performance driving events
Blue Ridge Hillclimb
12 Hours at the Point enduro

...and half of the Rally Tennessee

Highlights include a class victory in the Summit Point 12-hour enduro, a total of 5 first-in-class trophies, and 2 second place finishes.

2006

Driver of the Conover Engines - PhilsTireService.com Golf Version 3.2

Events
2 ea. SCCA Regional sprint races
1 ea. high-performance driving event
1 ea. 2-hour ECR enduro
12 Hours at the Point enduro

Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour enduro

A completely new car emerged from the winter rebuilding effort - lighter, stronger, and faster. A limited schedule meant that it was the end of the season before the Conover-built engine was tuned for optimum performance but great strides in lap times made it worth the wait.

2007

Driver of the Conover Motor Sports Golf Version 3.2

Events
3 ea. SCCA Regional sprint races
1 ea. 3-hour NASA enduro
GRM Ultimate Track Car Challenge
12 Hours at the Point enduro
Return of the Longest Day 24-hour enduro

Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour enduro

...and an ARRC ITB sprint gold medal by Bowie Gray of Conover Motor Sports.

A further year of Conover development realized Kirk's most successful endurance racing season to date, with two major event class victories, fourth in the Endurance Championship Series, and a wonderful overall win in the wet NASA VIR 3-hour enduro.


Tom Hoppe-Sixgun Racing Photo

2008

Driver of the Conover Motor Sports Golf Version 3.2

Events
6 ea. SCCA Regional sprint races
2 ea. SCCA 90-minute ECR enduros
1 ea. 3-hour NASA enduro
12 Hours at the Point enduro
Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour enduro
2nd Annual IT SPEC*tacular
SARRC Invitational Challenge (SIC)

Second in season points in the SARRC championship would constitute a good year by many measures, but 2008 couldn't help but be something of a disappointment, following the breakthrough successes of last season.


Ken Neher Photo
Last updated 28 November, 2008

Project GTI is headquartered at Conover Motor Sports, Burlington, NC

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All text and images © copyright 2003-2009 Kirk Knestis unless otherwise indicated. Other copyrighted images used with permission.