Nail-Biting Double-Header Qualifying From Top to Bottom Across All Classes in Pirelli GT4 America

Nail-Biting Double-Header Qualifying From Top to Bottom Across All Classes in Pirelli GT4 America
  • Q1: Conquest Racing Takes Silver Pole, Heart of Racing Team Claims Fastest Lap in PRO-AM, BimmerWorld quickest in AM
  • Q2: Random Vandals Racing On Top in Silver, ACI Motorsports Take Pole in PRO-AM, Carrus Callas Raceteam Untouchable in AM
  • Results Q1 | Results Q2

Humidity and uncertain skies punctuated the Pirelli GT4 America qualifying session. Despite a short red flag at the beginning of Qualifying One, drivers were able to take advantage of most of the session. NOLA Motorsports Park, located in New Orleans, nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’, was the host of two thrilling qualifying sessions, during which more than forty cars tried to claim the pole positions up for grabs. 

Qualifying One 

Silver

As the rain was holding off to let the Pirelli GT4 America drivers complete their qualifying session, Jesse Webb lost no time clocking in a flying lap in his #34 Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4 machine. The young Canadian laid down a time of 1:42.794, and was the only driver to settle into the 42s in the opening session. 

The No. 51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Zac Anderson and John Dubets went second quickest, with the No. 74 COPELAND MOTORSPORTS Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 of Tyler Maxson and Tyler Gonzalez a mere 0.247 behind. They were challenged by the No. 92 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 and the No. 88 STR38 Motorsports BMW M4 GT4, as the top five was all within less than a second apart. 

PRO-AM Class

The Heart of Racing Team made their presence known around NOLA as their No. 24 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 co-commanded by Roman DeAngelis and Gray Newell laid the fastest lap time of the PRO-AM Class. However, it was a tight battle for the quickest time as ACI Motorsports was right on their tails, missing out on pole position by 0.051 seconds. Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo will start second in their No. 7 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. 

NOLA native Ross Chouest and Canadian co-driver Aaron Povoledo put down the third-fastest lap time of the session on board their No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4. The Bayou holds no secrets for this team, and humidity is only a minor inconvenience for local Chouest who hopes to claim the highest honor in Race One in front of his family and friends. 

Am 

2022 AM Class Champions Charlie Postins and James Clay were unstoppable in the AM Class in Qualifying One, setting a lap time of 1:44.034 aboard their No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4. They also made their mark in the top ten, clinching the 8th fastest overall time. Sonoma Race 2 podium-finishers Chris Allen and Robert Mau put their No. 438 STR38 Motorsports van Gogh-inspired  BMW M4 GT4 second on the grid, with the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 commanded by Paul Sparta and Al Carter in third place. 

Qualifying Two

Silver 

As the grid reset ahead of the second qualifying session, drivers prepared themselves for another shot at glory. In the Silver class, it was Random Vandals Racing who stepped up to the plate and delivered a flying lap time of 1:41.866 to secure pole for Race Two. The No. 92 ​​BMW M4 GT4 was the only one to break through into the 1:41 minute mark. 

Sitting 0.437 seconds behind them in second place was the No. 999 Hanley Motorsports Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 of Parker Thompson and Daniel Hanley, moving up one more position on the grid in comparison to their performance in the first qualifying session. Michai Stephens rounded off the top three on board his No. 34 Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT4. 

PRO-AM 

The No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Curt Swearingin and Kay van Berlo further improved from their first qualifying session as they sped into pole position for Race Two, as well as earned the third-best time overall. 

Elias Sabo and Andy Lee had a strong outing in Qualifying 2, placing their No. 8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT on the front row in second position ahead of Race Two taking place tomorrow. Meanwhile, hometown team NOLASPORT gave the local crowds a lot to cheer for as Matt Travis and Jason Hart moved the No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport into third place. 

AM

The No. 20 Carrus Callas Raceteam Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4 had a dominant performance as Nicholas Shanny and Terry Borcheller qualified first for Race Two, and earned the fourth-quickest time overall. 

NOLASPORT secured another second-place starting position, this time in the Am class with the likes of Nelson Calle and Juan Pablo Martinez in the No. 83 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport entry. The No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Paul Sparta and Al Carter secured back-to-back third-place finishes in qualifying. 

Race One will take place later today at 5:00 PM. Race Two will follow on Sunday, April 30 at 11:30 AM CT.

STAY UP TO SPEED WITH #GT4America

Website: www.gt4-america.com/

Twitter: @GT4America

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gt4america

Instagram: @gt4america

All race sessions are streamed live on the GT World YouTube page. Join Ash Vandelay on Twitch by following the SROMotorsports channel. Vandelay hosts six-hour programs Saturday and Sunday, where she is joined by drivers while chatting with fans and giving an interesting insight into that day's races.

Tickets are on-sale at www.showpass.com/sro-nola with enhanced offerings including the Patriot Car Corral, recently announced car show – NOLA Motor Showoff presented by The Bomb Factory – and trackside camping. Starting at just $10, it's fun for the whole family with kids 12 and under free with paid adult.