News

4 JANUARY 2008
REHAGEN MUSTANGS SHOW HORSEPOWER IN OPENING KONI CHALLENGE TEST

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 4, 2008) -- Mike Canney had two reasons to be happy during the first KONI Challenge Series test session of 2008.

"It didn't rain," he said laughing following the two-session test. The other reason was his car was fastest overall among 33 Grand Sport cars.

Ford Mustangs flexed their muscle, taking four of the top-five overall positions with Canney's No. 60 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang heading the charts. He left it to co-driver Hugh Plumb to set the time of 2:01.018 (105.902 mph) during the second session.

The Rehagen Racing squad had the best day of any team - at least in terms of overall times - with the No. 59 Ford Mustang second in GS and No. 154 Ford Mustang in fifth. The No. 3 Blackforest Motorsports Ford Mustang was fourth, just behind the No. 83 BGB Motorsports Porsche 997.

Canney brought the No. 60 over to Rehagen to make it a five-car team.

"The guys in the shop have worked all season for this moment," Canney said. "It's good for them to come down to Daytona and see the fruits of their labor."

Plumb, who has specialized in Porsche-powered cars over the past few seasons, quickly found the differences between Porsches and Mustangs. He said while the speeds were accomplished only in testing, the team found a little momentum heading into the second day Saturday.

"We had success in the fact that four wheels didn't fall off the car today," Plumb said. "With the fact that the car is quick, it shows the team will start to gel together. We need to put some good test days behind us and then look forward to the race."

Driver Andrew Aquilante said ICY/Phoenix Racing's goals are to win races and a Grand-Am KONI Challenge Street Tuner (ST) championship in 2008 and took the first step toward each of those Friday. Aquilante's co-driver David Rosenblum set a time of 2:11.314 (97.598 mph) during the second session in the No. 141 Subaru Legacy, the best of 29 cars overall on Friday.

The Subaru Legacy accomplished a lot in little time last season, as the team won twice despite running an abbreviated schedule. Expecting to campaign both cars fulltime in 2008, Aquilante believes both cars have a shot at a title.

"The cars are pretty good," Aquilante said. "We did a little bit during the offseason to make them better than last year, so we're pretty satisfied. It's always a good sign when you're up top. This is just testing; this isn't race day.

"Obviously, the goal is to win the championship," Aquilante said. "Winning a couple races was nice last year, especially with an abbreviated season, so I'd say we're looking pretty good."

The No. 111 ICY/Phoenix Racing Subaru Legacy was also fast, landing third in the second session with drivers Chuck Hemmingson and Kristian Skavnes, who took the Subaru Legacy to its first two KONI Challenge Series wins in 2007.