June 05, 2002 – AMY RUMAN QUALIFIES 8TH AND SECURES 12TH PLACE FINISH IN MID-OHIO SCCA GT-1 NATIONAL
Lexington, Ohio; Amy Ruman ran her third GT-1 SCCA National this past weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Ruman, running the #23 Cenweld/McNichols 2002 Corvette qualified a solid 8th with a 1:31.865 in the 20 car GT-1 field on Saturday starting her in the 4th row. The field consisted of many top GT-1 and Trans-Am Series drivers like Mike Lewis, Jeff Ervin, Rob Giorgi, Don Soenen, Tim Cowen, Cliff Ebben, and Brian Kubinski.
Unfortunately, Ruman’s race did not go according to plan. On the first lap in the second turn, Ruman and Tom Sloe the #66 Corvette got together.
“I got past Sloe on the start,” exclaimed Ruman. “We were heading through turn one and the car in front of me suddenly slowed up – I had to check up and that allowed Sloe to catch back up to me on my left. Then heading into the next turn, he chopped down on me for the line. I guess Sloe thought he was clear to move over on me, but he wasn’t. I still had the inside line for the turn.”
Both cars went into the grass and re-entered on the back straight. With the engine water temperature rising, it became necessary for Ruman to pit to clear the grass from the radiator. Ruman continued on and finished the race in 12th place.
“I am very disappointed in the outcome of my race. I was looking to run up front with the leaders and get some wheel to wheel GT-1 experience with the top drivers, but that did not happen today. I battled the overheating problems and the bent steering for the remainder of the race, but a least I finished. I come from Spec Racer where you can feel confident to run side by side with other drivers in your class.” – Amy Ruman.
