IMSA: LMP2 cars fastest in rain-hit Petit Le Mans qualifying
Louis Deletraz turned the fastest GTP lap in his Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport Acura to take the GTP pole position in a damp qualifying session for Motul Petit Le Mans.
Deletraz set the GTP pace with a time of 1:15.402, although the fastest lap in all of qualifying was set by LMP2 pole-sitter Ben Keating on slick tires in an earlier session.
The GTP cars will be moved ahead of the LMP2s for Saturday’s race start.
The final pole position in the WeatherTech Championship’s LMP3 class, which is being removed after the current season, went to Andretti Autosport driver Glenn van Berlo.
The Dutchman produced a 1:16.674 in the No. 36 Ligier JS P320 Nissan
Vasser Sullivan Lexus on GTD PRO pole
GTD and GTD Pro qualifying was also hit by rain so times are meaningless.
On a wet track that was drying quickly, Jack Hawksworth, in the SealMaster liveried No.14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3, qualified on the pole in GTD PRO for tomorrow’s 10-Hour Petit Le Mans at the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Hawksworth’s fast time came in at 1:23.168 on the 12-turn, 2.54-mile Road Atlanta permanent road course in Braselton, Georgia.
Corvette Racing will start second in the GT Daytona (GTD) PRO class after qualifying for Saturday’s 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Antonio Garcia qualified the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C8.R on Friday with a time of 1:24.009 (108.728 mph) in the entry he will share with Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner. It was the last qualifying run in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the C8.R, which will give way to the new Corvette Z06 GT3.R in 2024.
Garcia was sixth-fastest among all GT drivers Friday in a damp but drying 15-minute qualifying session. A persistent light rain eased just before the start of the session with the Corvette going out on rain tires – like the rest of the GTD PRO field. A combined 25 GTD cars were on track at the same time for the qualifying session, making it challenging to find space and a clear track.
Heart of Racing wins GTD pole
Ian James and the Heart of Racing scored the team’s fifth Motul Pole Award of the season during Friday’s qualifying session for the IMSA season finale Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The No. 27 Heart of Racing GTD entry of James, Roman De Angelis, and Marco Sorensen look to bookend the season with a victory after having won the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.
The Heart of Racing Team made progress through the three opening sessions of the event, which has featured changing weather conditions throughout. The pace had been promising, with the No. 27 Aston Martin posting the fourth-fastest lap time in the opening practice session ahead of a dry second practice session, as the team worked on adjustments on the No. 27 Aston Martin before moving into the final practice session Thursday night.
James made his fourth qualifying run for the No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin team this season. The Heart of Racing Team left the decision between dry and wet tires up to James as a steady light mist fell ahead of the session. Tapping into his experience, James made the call for dry Michelin tires, which proved to be the right call as he took his third career IMSA pole with a 1:23.116 second lap time to claim the overall GT field pole position.
2023 Petit Le Mans Qualifying Results
|
GTP |
|||||||
|
Pos |
No. |
Drivers |
Team |
Car |
Time |
Behind | Gap |
|
1 |
10 |
R. Taylor / F. Albuquerque / L. Deletraz |
Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 |
Acura ARX-06 |
1:15.402 |
+0.000 | +0.000 |
|
2 |
01 |
S. Bourdais / R. van der Zande / S. Dixon |
Cadillac Racing |
Cadillac V-Series.R |
1:15.632 |
+0.230 |
+0.230 |
|
3 |
24 |
P. Eng / M. Wittmann / A. Farfus |
BMW M Team RLL |
BMW M Hybrid V8 |
1:15.731 |
+0.329 |
+0.099 |
|
4 |
60 |
T. Blomqvist / C. Braun / H. Castroneves |
Meyer Shank Racing w/ Curb Agajanian |
Acura ARX-06 |
1:15.847 |
+0.445 |
+0.116 |
|
5 |
6 |
N. Tandy / M. Jaminet / L. Vanthoor |
Porsche Penske Motorsports |
Porsche 963 |
1:16.219 |
+0.817 |
+0.372 |
|
6 |
25 |
S. van der Linde / C. De Phillippi N. Yelloly |
BMW M Team RLL |
BMW M Hybrid V8 |
1:16.371 |
+0.969 |
+0.152 |
|
7 |
7 |
M. Campbell / F. Nasr / J. Newgarden |
Porsche Penske Motorsports |
Porsche 963 |
1:16.860 |
+1.458 |
+0.489 |
|
8 |
31 |
P. Derani / A. Sims / J. Aitken |
Whelen Engineering Cadillac Racing |
Cadillac V-Series.R |
1:17.657 |
+2.255 |
+0.797 |
|
9 |
5 |
T. van der Helm / M. Rockenfeller J. Button |
JDC Miller MotorSports |
Porsche 963 |
1:18.204 |
+2.802 |
+0.547 |
|
10 |
59 |
H. Tincknell / G. Bruni / N. Jani |
Proton Competition |
Porsche 963 |
|||
|
LMP2 |
|||||||
|
Pos |
No. |
Drivers |
Team |
Car |
Time |
Behind | Gap |
|
1 |
52 |
B. Keating / P. Chatin / A. Quinn |
PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:13.859 |
+0.000 | +0.000 |
|
2 |
11 |
S. Thomas / M. Jensen / S. Huffaker |
TDS Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:13.879 |
+0.020 |
+0.020 |
|
3 |
35 |
J. Falb / G. van der Garde / J. Pierson |
TDS Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:14.380 |
+0.521 |
+0.501 |
|
4 |
04 |
G. Kurtz / B. Hanley / N. Siegel |
Crowdstrike Racing by APR |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:14.547 |
+0.688 |
+0.167 |
|
5 |
88 |
F. Perrodo / M. Vaxiviere / E. Collard |
AF Corse |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:15.157 |
+1.298 |
+0.610 |
|
6 |
20 |
D. Andersen / E. Jones / A. Fjordbach |
High Class Racing |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:15.547 |
+1.688 |
+0.390 |
|
7 |
8 |
A. Balogh / S. McLaughlin / K. Simpson |
Tower Motorsports |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:15.559 |
+1.700 |
+0.012 |
|
8 |
18 |
D. Merriman / R. Dalziel / C. Rasmussen |
Era Motorsport |
ORECA LMP2 07 |
1:15.771 |
+1.912 |
+0.212 |
|
LMP3 |
|||||||
|
Pos |
No. |
Drivers |
Team |
Car |
Time |
Behind | Gap |
|
1 |
36 |
J. Andretti / G. Chaves / G. van Berlo |
Andretti Autosport |
Ligier JS P320 |
1:16.674 |
+0.000 | +0.000 |
|
2 |
85 |
T. Bechtolsheimer / D. Goldburg R. Lindh |
JDC Miller MotorSports |
Duqueine D08 |
1:16.803 |
+0.129 |
+0.129 |
|
3 |
30 |
D. Dickerson / B. Garg / G. Grist |
Jr III Racing |
Ligier JS P320 |
1:16.947 |
+0.273 |
+0.144 |
|
4 |
13 |
O. Fidani / M. Bell / L. Kern |
AWA |
Duqueine D08 |
1:19.693 |
+3.019 |
+2.746 |
|
5 |
17 |
A. Mantella / W. Boyd / N. Varrone |
AWA |
Duqueine D08 |
1:36.721 |
+20.047 +17.028 94.539 |
|
|
6 |
38 |
B. Thienes / J. Woolridge / C. Shields |
Performance Tech Motorsports |
Ligier JS P320 |
|||
|
7 |
74 |
G. Robinson / F. Fraga / J. Burdon |
Riley |
Ligier JS P320 |
|||
|
GTDPRO |
|||||||
|
Pos |
No. |
Drivers |
Team |
Car |
Time |
Behind | Gap |
|
1 |
14 |
|
Vasser Sullivan |
Lexus RC F GT3 |
1:23.168 |
+0.000 | +0.000 |
|
2 |
3 |
A. Garcia / J. Taylor / T. Milner |
Corvette Racing |
Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD |
1:24.099 |
+0.931 |
+0.931 |
|
3 |
79 |
D. Juncadella / J. Gounon / M. Engel |
WeatherTech Racing |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
1:24.220 |
+1.052 |
+0.121 |
|
4 |
9 |
K. Bachler / P. Pilet / K. Estre |
Pfaff Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
1:24.287 |
+1.119 |
+0.067 |
|
5 |
62 |
A. Pier Guidi / D. Serra / D. Rigon |
Risi Competizione |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
1:24.419 |
+1.251 |
+0.132 |
|
6 |
23 |
R. Gunn / A. Riberas / D. Pittard |
Heart of Racing Team |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
1:25.047 |
+1.879 |
+0.628 |
|
7 |
61 |
S. Mann / M. Molina / J. Calado |
Af Corse |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
1:25.131 |
+1.963 |
+0.084 |
|
8 |
63 |
M. Bortolotti / J. Pepper / F. Perera |
Iron Lynx |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 |
|||
|
GTD |
|||||||
|
Pos |
No. |
Drivers |
Team |
Car |
Time |
Behind | Gap |
|
1 |
27 B |
R. De Angelis / M. Sorensen / I. James |
Heart of Racing Team |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
1:23.116 |
+0.000 | +0.000 |
|
2 |
83 |
R. Frey / M. Gatting / D. Pin |
Iron Dames |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 |
1:23.795 |
+0.679 |
+0.679 |
|
3 |
12 |
F. Montecalvo / A. Telitz / P. Thompson |
Vasser Sullivan |
Lexus RC F GT3 |
1:23.847 |
+0.731 |
+0.052 |
|
4 |
97 |
B. Auberlen / C. Hull / T. Merrill |
Turner Motorsport |
BMW M4 GT3 |
1:24.036 |
+0.920 |
+0.189 |
|
5 |
57 |
R. Ward / P. Ellis / I. Dontje |
Winward Racing |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
1:24.151 |
+1.035 |
+0.115 |
|
6 |
66 B |
S. Monk / K. Legge / M. Miller |
Gradient Racing |
Acura NSX GT3 |
1:24.760 |
+1.644 |
+0.609 |
|
7 |
70 B |
B. Iribe / F. Schandorff / O. Millroy |
Inception Racing |
McLaren 720S GT3 EVO |
1:24.797 |
+1.681 |
+0.037 |
|
8 |
80 B |
P. Hyett / S. Priaulx / G. Jeannette |
AO Racing |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
1:25.080 |
+1.964 |
+0.283 |
|
9 |
93 |
A. Harrison / D. Formal / K. Marcelli |
Racers Edge Motorsports with WTR |
Acura NSX GT3 |
1:25.088 |
+1.972 |
+0.008 |
|
10 |
1 |
B. Sellers / M. Snow / C. Lewis |
Paul Miller Racing |
BMW M4 GT3 |
1:25.123 |
+2.007 |
+0.035 |
|
11 |
78 |
M. Goikhberg / L. Spinelli / P. Liddy |
Forte Racing Powered by USRT |
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 |
1:25.529 |
+2.413 |
+0.406 |
|
12 |
32 |
M. Skeen / M. Grenier / K. Koch |
Team Korthoff Motorsports |
Mercedes-AMG GT3 |
1:25.533 |
+2.417 |
+0.004 |
|
13 |
47 B |
R. Lacorte / G. Sernagiotto / A. Fuoco |
CETILAR RACING |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
1:25.535 |
+2.419 |
+0.002 |
|
14 |
16 B |
R. Hardwick / Z. Robichon / J. Heylen |
Wright Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
1:25.569 |
+2.453 |
+0.034 |
|
15 |
96 |
P. Gallagher / R. Foley / M. Dinan |
Turner Motorsport |
BMW M4 GT3 |
1:25.733 |
+2.617 |
+0.164 |
|
16 |
77 B |
A. Brynjolfsson / T. Hindman / M. Root |
Wright Motorsports |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
1:26.060 |
+2.944 |
+0.327 |
|
17 |
023 B |
O. Triarsi / C. Scardina / A. Rovera |
Triarsi Competizione |
Ferrari 296 GT3 |
1:27.718 |
+4.602 |
+1.658 |
|
18 |
44 B |
J. Potter / A. Lally / S. Pumpelly |
Magnus Racing |
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 |
1:27.758 |
+4.642 |
+0.040 |
|
19 |
92 B |
D. Brule / A. Udell / J. Andlauer |
Kellymoss with Riley |
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) |
|||