Racing & Driver Coaching

2008 GT-Lite National Champion

Peter Zekert - 2008 GT-Lite National Champion

TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 11, 2008) – In his 17th Runoffs start, Peter Zekert, of Maryland Heights, Mo., claimed his first National Title, winning GT-Lite at the 45th SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

Starting third, Zekert became the luckiest man in the race before the green flag even flew, as the entire front row disappeared before the race could begin. First, polesitter Christopher Bovis lost power to his No. 1 Honda CRX on the pace lap, when a piece of rubber became lodged in the air intake. Bovis’ disabled car, stopped on the back stretch, forced the starter to wave off the start so the safety crew could remove the vehicle. Then, as the field reformed and approached the final corner before the front straight, second-place qualifier Brian Linn pulled his No. 21 Hoosier Tires/CW Horton GC MG Midget into pitlane. When the green flag waved, Zekert became the polesitter.

Shadown’s No. 72 Goodyear/RedLine/Road-n-Race Honda CRX followed Zekert into Turn One. Shadowen was soon passed by the No. 6 FMR/Goodyear/Rebello Racing Nissan Sentra SE-R of Lans Stout, from Cornelius, Ore., who would then set his sights on Zekert. Stout kept the pressure on Zekert until lap 13, when a driving error caused the rear-end of his car to get loose and send him on an off-course excursion through the Turn Four grass.

Zekert was never challenged again in his No. 45 Booble/Goodyear/Red Line Nissan 200SX SE-R crossing the finish line 4.573 seconds ahead of second place Shadowen, a flag to flag victory.

 

Zekert Racing & Driver Coaching

Peter Zekert is an accomplished race driver, winning the 2008 SCCA GT-Lite National Championship "Runoffs" at Heartland Park Topeka in a Nissan 200SX. Peter started in racing in the middle 1970s, first as crew and later as a driver. He built his first race car during the late 1970s.

Peter Zekert - 2008 GT-Lite National Champion :: Highlights from the 2008 SCCA Runoffs at Heartland Park

Peter Zekert - 2008 GT-Lite National Champion

Highlights from the 2008 SCCA GT-Lite National Championship Runoffs at Heartland Park

Coaching

Peter is an experienced driver coach using both "old school" observation techniques and cutting edge data/video techniques. Since the goal of coaching is to communicate with the student to bring out his/her strengths, Peter uses the combination of methods that makes the student most comfortable - and ultimately most effective in learning. For example, some students want to understand the various data plots while others find them confusing. For some students Peter uses the data plots as a learning tool.  For others, the data remains behind the scenes.

Peter Zekert - Godfather of GT-Lite :: Highlights from the 2007 SCCA Runoffs at Heartland Park

Peter Zekert - Godfather of GT-Lite

Peter is known as the "Godfather of GTL" in SCCA circles and is willing to help anyone get into GTL/GT5 racing and keep their cars running.  Watch this highlight from the 2007 SCCA Runoffs where the announcers just can't find the word "Godfather".

Racing

  • 2008 SCCA GT-Lite National Champion.
    • Additional SCCA National Championship Runoffs highlights in GTL & GT-5 include: Front row qualifier in 2006; 3rd place in 2007; 4th place in 1999 and 8th place in 2001.
  • Midwest Division GTLite champion in 2005, 2006 & 2007
  • SCCA National racing license, 1983 to present
  • Skip Barber Formula Dodge RT200 at Mid-Ohio, 2002
  • Dodge Stratus Pace Car Driver at Gateway Int’l Raceway, Spring Open House 2000
  • SCCA Pace Car Driver at Gateway Int’l Raceway, 2000
  • SCCA Competition Board, AdHoc Committee member 1994 to 2004, receiving the 1994 Competition Board Award of Merit.
 

Login Form