Lally, Edwards Shine at Watkins Glen

Jun 9, 2007 (photo: grand-am.com)
Watkins Glen, N.Y. – A pair of Team USA Scholarship winners played starring roles in the Rolex GT class of last weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

Paul Edwards, who was awarded the first of his three Team USA Scholarships in 1997, took the class pole position, while 1999 Team USA Scholarship winner Andy Lally emerged to take the primary honors after a thrilling race the following afternoon.

Edwards, sharing Banner Racing’s #07 Pontiac GXP.R with regular co-driver Kelly Collins, blitzed the historic 3.37-mile road course on Friday with a lap at 1:53.823, just over a second quicker than Bill Auberlen’s qualifying record. Edwards went into the race brimming with confidence, especially after Banner Racing teammates Tim Lewis Jr. and Leighton Reese had taken their Pontiac to victory in the most recent race at Lime Rock.

“It’s a new car and a new team [in 2007], and this is the first pole for the new car, so it’s quite a day for us, especially coming off a victory at Lime Rock,” said Edwards. “Everyone is starting to gel and we’re really excited.”

Lally had to be content with the 22nd starting position after veteran teammate R.J. Valentine was assigned qualifying duties in the TRG team’s #66 CRG/Maxter/Rotax/MBA/NFP/F1Air Porsche GT3 Cup which the pair would share with Lally’s long-time friend Spencer Pumpelly.

Both Team USA Scholarship drivers drove the lion’s share of the six-hour race in their respective cars, and while Edwards’ Pontiac was delayed both by a problem with the battery and a stop-go penalty following inadvertent contact with another car, Lally’s Porsche quickly moved up into contention for the win.

Lally, who drove the opening two hours and the final two-hour stint, passed 2006 Porsche Supercup champion Richard Westbrook for the lead with less than 20 minutes remaining, then held off a determined challenge from yet another Porsche Supercup standout, Germany’s Dirk Werner, to take the win by just 2.721 seconds.

“It was a very gratifying win,” said Lally, who also combined with Valentine to win at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca last month. “During the last few laps I was alongside two of the best Porsche drivers out there, and I was just driving flat-out. I grew up in New York so winning here and having my family watching really means a lot to me.”

Edwards also drove a storming race, posting the fastest lap as he rallied from two laps down to finish third in the GT class, just 11 seconds behind Lally. He and Collins now lie second in the overall GT point standings, trailing pacesetter Werner by 14 markers.

The Rolex Sports Car Series will be back in action at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 23/24.

Photo: Pumpelly, Lally and Valentine on the podium at Watkins Glen/www.grand-am.com)