Wittmer, Gallagher Grab Pirelli GT4 SprintX Poles at COTA

Wittmer, Gallagher Grab Pirelli GT4 SprintX Poles at COTA

Austin, TX - Canadian Nick Wittmer and American Patrick Gallagher set the fastest times Thursday afternoon to secure the Pirelli GT4 America SprintX series poles at Circuit of the Americas. Wittmer will lead the field to green for Friday's Round 12 race, while Gallagher will head the grid for Saturday's Round 13 competition. 

The 30-minute session was divided into two 15-minute heats to determine the grids for both races. 

Early on in the first heat to determine the grid for Round 12, ST Racing’s Silver class driver Jon Miller in the #38 BMW M4 GT4 went to the top with a 2:17.411 followed by Pro/Am competitor Matt Keegan in the #50 Panoz Racing Panoz Esperante Avezzano (2:17.734). Miller's time held until with under three minutes to go on the clock his ST Racing teammate Wittmer, in the #28 BMW M4 GT4, bested with a 2:17.022. At the checkered to end the first heat, both top times held and Friday's race will feature an all ST Racing front row. Keegan will start third overall and first in Pro/Am. Michael McAleenan, in the #3 Motorsport USA McLaren 570s GT4 will start on pole in the Am division (2:18.975).

The second heat saw Greg Liefooghe in the Stephen Cameron Racing #19 BMW M4 GT4 post an early fast time of 2:17.050 ahead of Andrew Davis in the #2 GMG Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 (2:17.064). Both of them were bested shortly after by Gallagher piloting the #33 Notlad Racing by RS1 Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 (2:16.408). Gallagher then solidified his top spot going quicker to a 2:16.372. BimmerWorld's Bill Auberlen in the #82 BMW M4 GT4 then moved into second momentarily with a 2:16.964 only to have Davis come back with a 2:16.770. The top times then held to the checkered.

Wittmer's teammate Harry Gottsacker will start on pole in the silver division and 10th overall (2:18.106) while NOLASPORT's Russell Walker had the top Am time of the heat (2:18.672) in the #46 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS MR.

Results are provisional until posted final. Pirelli GT4 America SprintX drivers now get set for Friday's Round 12 scheduled for a green flag start of 11am Central. Follow all sessions live at https://www.gt4-america.com/live.

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PROVISIONAL RESULTS QUAL GROUP 1 - PDF Link

PROVISIONAL RESULTS QUAL GROUP 2 - PDF Link