Champion Racing

{{short description|Former race car team}} {{About|the sports car racing team|the 1970s NASCAR team|Bill Champion (racing driver)}} {{Motor racing team | name = {{flagicon|USA}} Champion Racing | logo = | founded = 1994 | principal = Dave Maraj | driver = | former series = [[American Le Mans Series]], [[SCCA World Challenge]] | driver titles = 5 ([[2004 American Le Mans Series season|2004]], [[2005 American Le Mans Series season|2005]], [[2006 American Le Mans Series season|2006]], [[2007 American Le Mans Series season|2007]], [[2008 American Le Mans Series season|2008]]) | team titles = 5 ([[2004 American Le Mans Series season|2004]], [[2005 American Le Mans Series season|2005]], [[2006 American Le Mans Series season|2006]], [[2007 American Le Mans Series season|2007]], [[2008 American Le Mans Series season|2008]]) | folded = 2008 }}

[[Image:2 Audi R8 ADT.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Champion Racing's [[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]] during the [[2005 Petit Le Mans]].]] '''Champion Racing''' was a [[sports car racing]] team based in [[Pompano Beach, Florida]], [[United States|USA]]. Founded in 1994 by Dave Maraj, a former [[Rallying|rally]] driver from [[Trinidad]], as the motorsport wing of the '''Champion Motors''' [[car dealership]], the team has campaigned various [[Porsche]]s and [[Audi]]s in North American road racing series. Champion Racing's extensive record includes a win at the prestigious [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] in [[2005 24 Hours of Le Mans|2005]], and 5 straight [[American Le Mans Series]] LMP1 championships, 2 as a private team and 3 as a factory team under the name Audi Sport North America.

==Porsche years== Champion entered their first race at the 1993 [[12 Hours of Sebring]], finishing 21st overall and 7th in the Invitational [[Grand tourer|GT]] class with a [[Porsche 993|Porsche 911 Carrera 2]] driven by [[Justin Bell]], [[Michael Peters (racing driver)|Mike Peters]], and [[Oliver Kuttner]]. Mike Peters later stopped race driving and became team manager for the team.

In 1994, they entered a [[Porsche 911 Turbo|911 Turbo]] in several [[International Motor Sports Association|IMSA]] [[IMSA GT Championship|GT]] races, including the [[24 Hours of Daytona]] and 12 Hours of Sebring.

For the 1995 season, Champion partnered with Michael Colucci Racing (MCR), and the team moved up to a 2 car team with a pair of [[Porsche 911 GT2|911 GT2]]. Champion running the #72 car (964 chassis) and MCR running the #74 car (993 chassis). After an accident put them out a Daytona, [[Hans-Joachim Stuck]] and [[Bill Adam]] finished 2nd in the GTS-1 class at Sebring. They also collected class podiums at [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] and [[Infineon Raceway|Sears Point]] in the #74 car. In 1995 the team adopted the livery of a white background with various streaks of colours that has since become indelibly associated with the team. In fact, this livery was used on all Champion Racing entered cars, except for the special [[Flag of the United States|Stars & Stripes]] variation, using the blue and read colors of the [[Flag of the United States|American flag]] only, as tribute to the victims of the [[September 11 attacks]].

In 1996, Stuck and Adam won the GTS-1 class at Sebring with the #74, the first major win for Champion Racing.

In 1997 Champion scaled back to a one car team, taking over the reins of the #74 Porsche with Stuck, Adam, and [[Thierry Boutsen]] finishing 2nd in class at the 1997 Daytona 24 Hours.

For 1998, Champion Racing purchased a [[Porsche 911 GT1]] Evo. The team ran a full season in the [[United States Road Racing Championship|USRRC]] GT1 class, winning the [[6 Hours of Watkins Glen]] and finishing on the podium in 3 other races, winning the makes (Porsche) and drivers (Boutsen) championships. The team also competed in three [[Professional Sportscar Racing|PSCR]] races; Boutsen, [[Bob Wollek]], and [[Andy Pilgrim]] finished 2nd in GT1 and 3rd overall at the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], Boutsen and Wollek won the GT1 class at [[Road Atlanta]] in June (3rd overall), and Boutsen, Wollek and [[Ralf Kelleners]] won the GT1 class at the [[1998 Petit Le Mans|inaugural Petit Le Mans]], finishing 3rd overall, earning an automatic entry to the [[1999 24 Hours of Le Mans]].

In 1999, Champion ran the GT1 in the new [[American Le Mans Series]]. Due to the regulations, however, they were forced to run in the [[Le Mans Prototype|Prototype]] class against theoretically faster cars. They scored their best result in the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], finishing 4th overall and in class. The team also raced a [[Porsche 911 GT3]]-R in the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], finishing 2nd in the GT class.

With no place to run the GT1 in 2000, Champion changed cars to a [[Lola B2K/10]] with a [[Porsche]] engine. The team entered only two ALMS races (Sebring and Sears Point) and failed to finish either one. They also entered the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, finishing 7th in class and 21st overall. The team spent most of the season developing the car, with the aim of a high finish at the 2001 [[24 Hours of Daytona]].[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102538/http://www.championracing.net/2006/History/Porsche_Lola.htm]

Daytona 2001 started well; the team qualified 6th. However, a loss of oil pressure seven and a half hours in caused the car to retire. The team came back to finish 2nd in the Daytona finale at the end of the season. The team finally found some success with the Lola at the 2002 [[24 Hours of Daytona]], finishing 4th. After the race, the team would abandon the project, however Oliver Kuttner's Pegasus Racing would run the car in the latter half of the season.

==World Challenge GT with Audi== In 2000, Champion partnered with [[Audi]] to develop and run the [[Audi S4]] Competition in the [[Sports Car Club of America|SCCA]] [[SPEED World Challenge|Speedvision World Challenge]] series' GT class. For their first season, the pair of cars would be driven by reigning Touring Car champion [[Michael Galati]] and [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] winner [[Derek Bell (auto racer)|Derek Bell]]. Bell finished 9th in the opening round at [[Lowe's Motor Speedway|Charlotte]]. Galati would take 2nd in the championship, winning at [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway|Las Vegas]] and taking two other podiums. In 2001, Galati won the GT drivers' championship, taking 4 wins, and Audi won the manufacturers' championship by 1 point over [[Acura]]. In 2002, Galati would repeat as champion, with Bell 7th, and Audi 2nd in the manufacturers' standings.

In 2003, Champion debuted the new [[Audi RS6]] Competition. [[Randy Pobst]] finished on the podium at the first five races of the season, and won the last two rounds to take the Drivers' championship, and the manufacturers' championship for Audi.

===2001–05 (Audi R8)=== In 2001, Champion Racing bought an [[Audi R8 (race car)|Audi R8]] for competition in the [[American Le Mans Series]]. The team finished 8 races of the 10 round season. The team claimed a third-place finish at both the [[2001 12 Hours of Sebring|12 Hours of Sebring]] and [[2001 Petit Le Mans|Petit Le Mans]] as well as a second-place finish at the [[Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca]] round. The team finished 3rd in the LMP900 class championship.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2001/ 2001 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2001</ref>

For 2002, the team continued to compete with their Audi R8 in the full American Le Mans Series season. Having claimed a second-place finish at both the [[12 Hours of Sebring]] and [[Petit Le Mans]] the team finished the season 2nd in the LMP900 class championship, behind the factory [[Joest Racing|Joest]] Audi team.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2002/ 2002 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2002</ref>

2003 saw even more success for Champion Racing. After a second-place finish at the season opening [[12 Hours of Sebring]], the team went on to claim 4 overall victories including a win at [[Petit Le Mans]]. Champion Racing finished the season 2nd in the championship, only 7 points behind the factory Audi team.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2003/ 2003 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2003</ref>

In 2004, all the teams hard work paid off. With the absence of the factory Audi and Panoz teams, [[Dyson Racing]] became the team's main rival. After a second-place finish at the season opening [[12 Hours of Sebring]], the team claimed 7 overall victories and claimed the LMP1 team and drivers championship.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2004/ 2004 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2004</ref><ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2004/ 2004 ALMS Drivers Championship Results] 2004</ref>

For 2005, the team campaigned the American Le Mans Series with its Audi R8 for the 5th straight year. Despite fierce competition from the Dyson Racing team, an overall victory at the [[12 Hours of Sebring]] led to another 6 victories for the Champion Racing team. At the end of the season, the team claimed its second LMP1 team and drivers title.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2005/ 2005 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/drivers?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2005/ 2005 ALMS Drivers Championship Results] 2005</ref>

===2006–08 (Audi R10)=== In 2006, Champion Racing earned full-factory support from Audi and took over the Audi Sport North America title from [[Joest Racing]]. The team started the season with an overall victory at the [[12 Hours of Sebring]] with the brand new [[Audi R10 TDI]]. With the new car needing more testing and development, the team returned to the Audi R8 for 3 races. The R10 returned to competition at [[Lime Rock Park]]. The team claim overall victories at 9 of the 10 races comfortably giving the team the LMP1 team and drivers championship titles.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2006/ 2006 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2006/ 2006 ALMS Drivers Championship Results] 2006</ref>

2007 saw the Porsche and Acura LMP2 cars become the team's biggest challenge. Rule changes by the [[Automobile Club de l'Ouest|ACO]] made LMP2 cars the ability to compete for overall victories, particularly at the smaller, tighter tracks on the ALMS schedule. Despite claiming 12 straight class victories, the [[Penske Racing]] [[Porsche RS Spyder]]s were able to beat the Audi R10s 8 times for overall victory. By the end of the season, the team claimed the LMP1 team and drivers championship titles.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2007/ 2007 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/drivers?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2007/ 2007 ALMS Drivers Championship Results] 2007</ref>

In 2008, Champion Racing fought back against the competition of the LMP2 cars. Despite losing out on a victory at the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], the team claimed 10 class victories as well as 7 overall victories in the 11 race season. At the end of the season, Champion Racing claimed their 5th straight LMP1 team and drivers championship title.<ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings/team?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2008/ 2008 ALMS Team Championship Results] 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.alms.com/standings?year%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=2008/ 2008 ALMS Drivers Championship Results] 2008</ref>

At the end of the 2008 season, Audi announced its withdrawal from the American Le Mans Series, citing [[Great Recession|economic pressures]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Abuelsamid |first1=Sam |title=BREAKING: Audi withdraws from 2009 American Le Mans Series |url=https://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/05/embargo-12-5-6am-est-audi-withdraws-from-2009-american-le-mans/ |website=Autoblog |access-date=26 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> While Audi would continue to compete in select ALMS events, it would contest them with Joest Racing, bringing to an end Champion Racing's motorsport activities.

== 24 Hours of Le Mans == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" |- ! Year ! Entrant ! No. ! Car ! Drivers ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}} ! {{Tooltip|Class Pos.|Class Position}} |- ! [[1999 24 Hours of Le Mans|1999]] |align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} Champion Racing Dave Maraj | 80 |align=left| [[Porsche 911 GT3|Porsche 911 GT3-R]] |align=left| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Bernd Mayländer]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Dirk Müller (racing driver)|Dirk Müller]] {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bob Wollek]] | LMGT | 292 | 19th |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd''' |- ! [[2001 24 Hours of Le Mans|2001]] |align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} Champion Racing | 3 |align=left| [[Audi R8 (LMP)|Audi R8]] |align=left| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Johnny Herbert]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Ralf Kelleners]] {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Didier Theys]] | LMP900 | 81 | DNF | DNF |- ! [[2003 24 Hours of Le Mans|2003]] |align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} Champion Racing | 6 |align=left| [[Audi R8 (LMP)|Audi R8]] |align=left| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Stefan Johansson]] {{flagicon|FIN}} [[JJ Lehto]] {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]] | LMP900 | 372 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |- ! [[2004 24 Hours of Le Mans|2004]] |align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] Champion Racing | 2 |align=left| [[Audi R8 (LMP)|Audi R8]] |align=left| {{flagicon|FIN}} [[JJ Lehto]] {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Marco Werner]] | LMP1 | 368 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |- !rowspan=2| [[2005 24 Hours of Le Mans|2005]] |rowspan=2 align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} [[ADT Security Services|ADT]] Champion Racing | 2 |rowspan=2 align=left| [[Audi R8 (LMP)|Audi R8]] |align=left| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Biela]] {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Allan McNish]] {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Emanuele Pirro]] |rowspan=2| LMP1 | 364 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| '''3rd''' |- | 3 |align=left| {{flagicon|DNK}} [[Tom Kristensen]] {{flagicon|FIN}} [[JJ Lehto]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Marco Werner]] | 370 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''1st''' |}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.championracing.net/ Official site]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:American Le Mans Series teams]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans teams]] [[Category:American auto racing teams]] [[Category:Pompano Beach, Florida]] [[Category:Intercontinental Rally Challenge teams]] [[Category:Audi in motorsport]] [[Category:Auto racing teams established in 1994]] [[Category:Auto racing teams disestablished in 2008]] [[Category:IMSA GT Championship teams]] [[Category:Grand American Road Racing Association teams]]