Photo: SCCA/Mark Weber

Altenburg calls time in Touring Cars

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Reigning SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Champion Jeff Altenburg has called time on the defence of his crown this year.
Altenburg who returned for the first two rounds of the 2008 series in the No. 1
Mazdaspeed/Stoptech/Racinghart MAZDA6 has decided to concentrate on his attack in the SCCA SPEED GT Championship for the remainder of the season.

Altenburg, who won the 2007 race at Miller Motorsports Park en route to his SCCA SPEED Touring Car Drivers’ Championship, currently sits seventh in points after two races.

“I’m going to miss those guys,” Altenburg said. “They are my family and after six years and many great adventures, it’s time to move on. I wish them all the best.”

Altenburg will shift his focus to the DRC Motorsports SCCA SPEED GT effort, which currently has him 10th in points after driving two different Dodge Vipers in the first two races. The team plans to debut its new Lexus IS-F soon.

Jim Daniels took over the car at the recent Miller Motorsports Park and finished sixth. The 2006 SCCA Pro Racing Mazda MX-5 Cup Champion has just two previous starts in SPEED World Challenge, but a wealth of Mazda experience.