Wilson Takes GTS Pole for Pirelli World Challenge

Kris Wilson, of Monument, CO, set the fastest lap in the 30-minute GTS qualifying session at Circuit of The Americas, the Nissan Grand Prix of Texas brought to you by Motul. The session featured a hotly contested first 15 minutes with three drivers exchanging fast times.

First to post a fast time was Jack Baldwin, of Marietta, GA., driving the No. 73 RESET MD GTSport Racing, Porsche Cayman with a time of 2:17.322.

Five minutes in it was Baldwin, followed by Dean Martin, of Westland, MI., in his No. 50 Picture Cars East, Rehagen Racing, Ford Boss 302 with a 2:17.385. Third best was No. 32 Andrew Aquilante, of Chester Springs, PA, in the No.32 Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Performance, Phoenix American Motorsports Ford Mustang Boss 302 timing in at 2:18.082.

Just after the five-minute mark Martin threw down a lap of 2:16.495 to put him on top of the timing sheets.

Ten minutes into the session found Mark Wilkins, of Toronto, ON in the No. 38 Kia Motors America Kinetic Motorsports/Kia Racing Kia Optima going to second with a 2:17.003 and Aquilante bettering his earlier time with a 2:17.058 for third.

Just after the ten-minute mark, Wilson in his No. 07 TRG-AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT4 stopped the clocks at 2:16.729 to take over second spot. Coming around again Wilson bettered his time being the first and only to drop into the 2:15s with a blistering 2:15.943 that would ultimately stand up for pole for today’s Round 1 race.

“It's my first race in World Challenge in something like 20 years. It's good to be back. These Pirelli tires are awesome," said Wilson. “I made a mistake when I went out for qualifying. I actually passed Martin on the first lap, I should have seen the yellow flags and I didn't. I had to do a drive through and go back out and get the tires warmed up again. So I knew what I had to shoot for with Dean being out there. I know the track pretty well having raced here before and doing a ton of simulator stuff. That really helps."

Things settled down after Wilson’s fastest lap with only one change in the top five as the checkers ended GTS’s first qualifying session of the 2015 season.

The top five for today’s race will be, Wilson with his 2:15.943, followed by Martin with his 2:16.495, Wilkins at 2:17.003, Aquilante’s 2:17.058 and Andy Lee, of Colorado Springs CO. in his No. 20 BestIT Racing Chevrolet Camaro with a time of 2:17.177.

Results are provisional until posted final. Watch the Round 1 GTS race live today at www.world-challengetv.com @ 12:40pm. All races are broadcast live at world-challenge.com.

Results

1 07 GTS 1 Kris Wilson/Monument/CO Aston Martin Vantage GT4 7 2:15.943 90.037
2 50 GTS 2 Dean Martin/Westland/MI Picture Cars East/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:16.495 89.673
3 38 GTS 3 Mark Wilkins/Toronto/ON Kia Motors America/KIA Optima 2:17.003 89.341
4 32 GTS 4 Andrew Aquilante/Chester Springs/PA Calver Dynamics/Phoenix Perf/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:17.058 89.305
5 20 GTS 5 Andy Lee/Colorado Springs/CO Chevrolet Camaro 2:17.177 89.227
6 73 GTS 6 Jack Baldwin/Marietta/GA RESET-MD/Porsche Cayman 2:17.322 89.133
7 37 GTS 7 Kurt Rezzetano/Phoenixville/PA Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Perf/Ford Mustang 2:17.366 89.105
8 09 GTS 8 Derek DeBoer/Ashland/OR BlackRiderRacing/LexTempus/BRM/Aston Martin Vantage GT4 2:17.498 89.019
9 36 GTS 9 Ben Clucas/Northhampton London/ Kia Motors America/Kia Optima 2:17.641 88.927
10 28 GTS 10 Lou Gigliotti/Plano/TX LG Motorsports/Aston Martin Vantage GT4 2:18.269 88.523
11 60 GTS 11 Jack Roush Jr/Livonia/MI ROUSH Performance/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:18.728 88.230
12 10 GTS 12 Michael Cooper/Syosset/NY Blackdog Speed Shop/Chevrolet Z28 2:19.000 88.057
13 33 GTS 13 Dan Martinson(R)/Medina/MN Gear Tie/Nite Ize/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:19.264 87.890
14 11 GTS 14 Tony Gaples/Libertyville/IL Blackdog Speed Shop/Chevrolet Z28 2:20.576 87.070
15 62 GTS 15 Mark Klenin/Lone Tree/CO Schomp/Invisible Glass/Premier/Aston Martin Vantage GT4 2:20.721 86.980
16 35 GTS 16 Preston Calvert(R)/Potomac/MD Calvert Dynamics/Phoenix Perf/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:20.988 86.816
17 72 GTS 17 Buz McCall/Boca Raton/FL RESET-MD/Porsche Cayman 2:21.452 86.531
18 34 GTS 18 Nick Esayian/San Diego/CA TravelClean/FordMtrSpts/Derma3/Ford Mustang Boss302 2:22.913 85.646
19 40 GTS 19 Geoff Reeves/Cleveland/OH Shadow Works/Chevrolet Camaro @ 3:38.563 56.002
20 23 GTS 20 Vesko Kozarov/Salt Lake City/UT Nissan/Skullcandy/Stance/Nissan 370Z no time