It was a Cadillac shoot out in the race for pole position in the GTP class today at the sole qualifying session for the Rolex 24. After trading positions in the practice sessions the No. 31 Whelen Engineering/Action Express Racing Cadillac secured pole position by a marginal 0.071s ahead of the No. 01 Chip Ganassi Racing Cadillac Racing V-Series.R.
Pipo Derani started the weekend with the look of determination but the No. 31 car struggled to maintain the top spot in the later practice sessions. However, none of that matters now as Derani sent a message to the entire grid breaking the previous track lap record in qualifying to secure pole. With the finish Cadillac locks out the front row of next weekends race; Rolex 24.
In third Felipe Nasr was able to find the pace to reduce the gap to the cars ahead but the No. 07 Porsche Penske Porsche 963 ran out of time to amount a challenge for pole. Nonetheless the team was able to avoid serious damage to the car early in the session after a turn 5 spin out.
LMP2
Ben Keating starts race week off with a bang. Keating claimed in class pole position after setting a 1m38.501s lap time in No. 02 United Autosports USA ORECA. Nick Boulle in the No. 52 ORECA for Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports finishin one tenth behind Keating to secure second in class ahead of the No. 04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR car who finishes in third.
GTD/GTD Pro
AO Racing’s Seb Priaulx secured the top spot in GTD Pro with a class track record with a time of 1m44.382s in the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992). However, the task was not straight forward feat. The No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 fell short just 0.08s behind to secure secure in class. Given the amount of on track traffic. The Lexus will need to navigate the advantage found by the AO Racing Porsche. This may be a point of contention early in the race as the drivers get settled in to their first stents. It was a positive day for the Vasser Sullivan side as they secure P2 in class for GTD Pro and Pole in the GTD class with their No. 12 sister Lexus RC F GT3.
Full Provisional Qualifying Results are Below