Thunder Valley Featured Drivers Finish
Strong at Petit Le Mans
Galica, Endress, and Lux Impress in Debut
The Porsche
team of Cindi Lux, Divina Galica and Belinda Endress finished
sixth in the GT class and 20th overall at the third
annual Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta, Saturday, September
30. These three Featured Drivers of Thunder Valley
Racing usually compete against one another in the
Women's Global GT Series, but came together to form
a strong team for the American Le Mans Series ten hour
endurance race.
"It's pretty remarkable," said starting and finishing
driver Cindi Lux of Aloha, Oregon. "Other than getting
nailed by a prototype car early in the race, it was smooth
sailing for the whole race. It's hard to describe the
whole thing in one word. awesome, incredible, relieved.
I'm really happy."
Lux, who qualified in 14th position in the
GT class, 37th overall, drove her first stint for one hour
and twenty minutes, until 1:50 p.m., lap 44, pitting during a
caution. She was hit in the bumper on lap nine by a prototype
car and spun, then was hit again by another GT car. It caused
some right rear body damage to the car, but not major damage.
Lux's second stint was from lap 148 to 199 (4:41 p.m. until
6:19 p.m.), bringing the car up to 20th position overall,
eighth in class. She also drove the final stint, from 9:12
p.m., while in 21st overall and seventh in class, until race
end at 9:50 p.m., and finishing sixth in class, 20th
overall.
Divina Galica drove the second stint, from 1:50 p.m. until
3:29 p.m. Lux turned over the car in the 24th position on
lap 100 to Galica. Her second stint ran from 6:19 p.m.
until 7:45 p.m., lap 199 to 253, with the Porsche in 20th
position overall, eighth in class. "I am so happy I could
burst," said Galica, a Brit living in Sebring, Fla. and
Lakeville, Conn. "There's no better feeling than driving
well. I'm so thankful we finished, and to finish in the
top six, which was one of our ultimate goals, is
incredible. I left my lucky 13 at home, so this proves I
don't need it anymore."
Belinda Endress drove the third rotation, taking over on
lap 148 while in 22nd position overall, eighth in class.
Her second stint ran from lap 253 at 7:45 p.m. until lap
310 at 9:12 p.m.
"I really feel good we brought the car home in one piece,"
said Endress, of Newbury Park, Calif. "Nothing got too
unruly out there. Cole (Scrogham, team manager) was great.
He spotted traffic for us and really helped us along. It
was a good race." Lux turned the fastest time on lap eight
with a 1:29.760.
No future plans have been formulated for the popular trio
of women racers who caused a buzz all weekend at the North
Georgia circuit. They all hope their Petit Le Mans results
and performance will help show the racing world that they
are ready to race with the boys in Professional Sports Car
Racing and the American Le Mans Series. Watch for the
names Cindi Lux, Divina Galica and Belinda Endress at
sports car races in the near future.
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Go To Belinda Endress's Impressions of the Petit Le Mans