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September 29th 2000 Road Atlanta Women’s Global GT Series, Petit LeMans Speedvision World Challenge Beetle Cup
Endress qualified 5th. Only .3 sec. separated the top five qualifiers. After the pole sitter spun on the 2nd lap, Endress easily passed Duno for third. Midway in the race Belinda passed Galica for 2nd position and finished 2nd behind Bayer under caution. Currently 4th in points.
Promos for the weekend: 96 Rock, Atlanta, article in LA Times Saturday 29th Sports, Women’s Sports Illustrated, Women Motorist, WomenNewsLink.com, Motorsports Magazine, Speedvision Special Coverage, Oxygen Network Documentary on Women in Racing.
WGGTS Post race Interview with Belinda Endress: Well, qualifying was tough. I wasn’t happy with fifth but I knew my consistency was there. At the start, Duno and I ran side by side up turn 1,2,3 and when turn 4 came it was grass or her fenders. It was too early for that. Observing from practice, I knew I would get a cleaner shot at her. Several laps later the opportunity presented itself so I easily took it. Chasing Galica and Bayer was interesting. Bayer would break early and then again , causing Galica to hit her in the rear. Close racing, but not good for these hoods. At one point this messed up Galica for a clean shot out of 7. So I took advantage of it. To make a long story short, this car had no giddy up dote out of turn 7 all the way till I got to the slow parts of the track. So yes, I took advantage of it. I drafted her till way after the bridge before I could get enough momentum to get around her. As we were drag racing, knowing full well neither one of us was going to back out of it, her hood gave a couple of puffs and it ripped off. Unfortunately for Galica, it smashed her windshield and she had to retire. So, I chased Bayer as she pulled away from me in turns 7 to 1 and I would catch her from turns 2 to 7. I finished 2nd under yellow. Hey, at least the car finished, unlike Texas, and I got some points back. Did you know that I only got 2 points for poling, twice I might add, and running 2nd for 42min. of a 45min. race.
Photo By: Fred Metzler Jr.
(left to right) Belinda Endress, Sonja Bayer, Mrs. Nancy Panoz, Milka Duno
All because of a belt. This would have been my third 2nd place finish. I’ll quit whining. You bet I am looking forward to Las Vegas, I know I just have to fight that much harder. I have come a long way this year and it’s only the beginning. God has really blessed me. It has been interesting running both the WGGTS and the Petit LeMans this event. The schedule on Thursday was brutal. You know Galica and Lux are my team mates, running #81 GTR3 Porsche with G&W Motorsports. Cindi Lux quoted it perfectly, “We don’t have a learning curve, it is straight up and down.” But one thing I know how to do and that is hold on! |
