(QQ, Spring 2004) — The 2003 racing season finished on a high note for Randy Pobst, Champion Racing driver (Atlanta, Georgia). Along with clinching the 2003 Speed World Challenge GT Driver's Championship in his Audi RS 6, Pobst helped Audi win the Speed World Challenge Manufacturer's Championship, beating out such manufacturers as BMW, Chevrolet and Porsche. Randy credits his win to Champion Racing's reliability and development where the team had only 15 weeks to build an all-wheel-drive, 4.2-liter V8 bi-turbo Audi racecar for the 2003 racing season. In his #2 Champion Racing Audi RS6, Pobst earned a total of 255 points over the 10-race season, recording eight podium finishes and two wins. Known to family, friends, and fans as "Randy the Rocket" the lanky, 46-year old has spent over 20 years racing professionally and is cherishing his latest championship win. So, what is in store this season for Mr. Speed World Challenge GT Champion?

For starters, Pobst will be defending his Speed World Challenge GT title in the coveted #1 Champion Racing Audi RS6. "I can't wait to start the season at Sebring. I've missed racing over the winter months and it will be good to be behind the wheel of my Champion Audi," remarked Pobst. When he is not racing in the Speed World Challenge Series, Randy will be busy competing in both the Grand American Rolex Series and Grand-Am Cup.

In the Rolex Series, Randy is co-driving with Michael Levitas in the #37 Ajilon/TPC Racing Superchargers Porsche 911 GT3, SGS class. Their first race of the season was on January 31 in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. No surprise to anyone, Randy took the pole in qualifying and shared driving duties with Michael Levitas, Mark Bunting, Andy Lally, and John Littlechild. The endurance race proved to be challenging for all teams, as rain poured from dusk till dawn. Pobst was navigating the wheel when a three-hour caution period was called due to heavy rain. "It was like a bad dream," reported Pobst. "We were moving only forty-five miles per hour behind the pace car, thinking the race was going to restart at any moment. It was difficult to stay awake." Once the race resumed, it didn't get any easier. "At night, we couldn't see out of our windshields due to the spray from the other cars. We would look out through the side windows and slow down when we saw brake lights. It was crazy!" Two hours after the race resumed, the race was red flagged for three hours due to severe, heavy rain. During the final hours of the endurance race, the green flag was finally dropped with Pobst navigating the Porsche 911. Pobst took the checkered flag, with a second place podium finish in the SGS class. "TPC Racing did an amazing job preparing the car. I couldn't have done it without their support and my fellow co-drivers, Mike Levitas, Andy Lally, John Littlechild, and Mark Bunting," remarked Randy.

In the Grand-Am Cup Series, Pobst will be sharing the cockpit with Blake Rosser in the #4 Istook-Aines Motorsports Audi S4. Unfortunately, during their first race of the season, the #4 Audi experienced problems during practice. Pobst was unfazed, "Although the #4 Audi expired during practice and we were not able to compete in the three hour endurance race, we are confident the car will be reliable and competitive at the next race. It is unfortunate, but it's part of racing."

During his twenty- year racing career, Pobst refuses to accept failure as an option. When things get tough, he forges ahead until he reaches his goal of winning. Randy has won several championship series including: six SCCA Solo National Championship wins, two IMSA Firestone Firehawk Touring Championships, two SCCA National Runoffs titles, one North American Touring Championship title, and one Speed World Challenge GT Championship.

Pobst's championship wins made German automakers take notice. In 2001, Porsche signed Pobst as a factory driver. This distinctive title is rarely held by an American. Pobst proved worthy of the title by winning the GT class at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and scoring a second place finish overall. In that same year, he competed in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), securing four podium finishes in a Porsche. In 2003, Randy signed with Audi to campaign Champion Racing's new Audi RS6 in the Speed World Challenge GT Series. Pobst was happy to join Champion Racing (www.championracing.net), which is considered one of the most successful racing teams in the U.S. In November 2003, Pobst's victory in Puerto Rico clinched the driver's and manufacturer's championship for Audi, making Randy the Rocket a true asset to the team.

Returning to defend his GT Championship title in 2004, Pobst will be competing in the #1 Champion Racing Audi RS6 with teammate Michael Galati (North Olmstead, Ohio) who will be driving the #2 Champion Racing Audi RS6. Champion's newest rival will be the factory-backed effort of Cadillac in two CTS-V racecars piloted by Max Angelelli and Andy Pilgrim. The Florida-based Champion Racing Team is confident their team and drivers will have a successful 2004 season in the Speed World Challenge GT Series. Pobst believes bringing new factory-backed teams will help the series and looks forward to the tough competition.

As Randy the Rocket prepares to blast off into the 2004 season, he managed to have a little fun during the off-season. In December, Randy made a special appearance at the 2003 Essen Motor Show in Germany to greet fans, sign autographs, and answer questions about the Audi RS6. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle, 1996 Ducati 900. However, as a promise to his team owner and crew chief, motorcycle riding is off limits during the racing season to prevent any potential injuries. "It's a sacrifice, but it's worth it," grins Randy.

The SCCA SPEED World Challenge GT Car season will make its first standing start at the Sebring International Raceway as part of the 52nd Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring the week of March 17-19. During the 2004 series, teams will compete at Lime Rock Park, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Infineon Raceway, Portland International Raceway, Mosport International Raceway, Road America, Road Atlanta Motorsports Center and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. For more information on Randy Pobst, visit his website at www.randypobst.com.