- Auto Technic Racing quickest in Silver class
- Flying Lizard Motorsports fastest in PRO-AM and overall
- AM class
- Results
As the sun reached highnoon and beamed down over Circuit of the Americas, The Pirelli GT4 America Championship field set off on their rip-roaring adventure for Practice One. With a total of 32 cars on the grid across three classes, the series is always equipped to serve up endless action and a wickedly good time.
The 45 minute session ran uninterrupted, with teams and drivers able to use every minute at their disposal to get closer to determining their set-ups for the races that await them this weekend.
Silver Class
As always, it was a toss up amongst the Silver class drivers, with a number of different competitors inserting themselves into the mix. Zac Anderson and JCD Dubets were rapid all session long, and earned the best time in class on board the No. 51 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4. In fact, it was BMW who asserted themselves as the ones to watch, with Chandler Hull finishing second in class on board the No. 88 STR38 Motorsports BMW M4 GT4.
Michai Stephens kicked it into high gear as he jumped in the No. 34 Conquest Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 for the second half of the session, going on to set the third fastest time in class. Parker Thompson secured fourth in the No. 999 Hanley Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO, making it a true manufacturer medley. The Top 5 was completed by Kevin Boehm in the No. 92 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4.
PRO-AM Class
It was an ever-changing battle for the top spot in the PRO-AM class, but it was ultimately Jason Bell that came out with the best time of 2:15.368 as he masterfully maneuvered his No. 2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 around the 20-corner circuit. Bell not only secured the best time in class, but also topped the leaderboard in the overall standings.
Gray Newell followed closely in second place, in addition to setting the third-fastest time overall behind the wheel of the No. 24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4. Third place was occupied by the No. BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 of Tyler McQuarrie, accompanied by Tim Pappas in fourth in the No. 54 Black Swan Racing McLaren Artura GT4. Johan Schwartz took home fifth place in his No. 44 Rooster Hall Racing BMW M4 GT4.
AM Class
Carrus Callas Raceteam quickly took the class lead in the session and maintained it for the entirety of the 45-minute countdown, with Terry Borcheller speeding into the top spot in class on board the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO.
The No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 of Charlie Postins and James Clay followed closely behind, only separated by 0.131 seconds. They were joined by Chris Allen and Robert Mau in third, who are also proudly wearing the BMW colors, with the No. 438 STR38 Motorsports BMW M4 GT4.
The No. 253 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Rob Walker and Satakal Khalsa ended the session in fourth place, with the No. 77 TR3 Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Paul Kiebler and Jon Branam closing out the opening practice session in fifth.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT4 America field will take to the track once again for Practice 2 on Friday afternoon at 5:15pm.
If you can’t make it to COTA, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports). Of course, follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTCOTA.