The Pirelli GT4 America field were back for more action as they revved up for Qualifying on Saturday morning in two back-to-back fifteen-minute sessions to set the grid for the upcoming races. Both sessions went smoothly, with green flag running all the way through to the checkered flag.
Conquest Racing and Hanley Motorsports set the fastest times in the Silver class ahead of Race One and Race Two, with NOLASPORT and Heart of Racing Team starting first in class in PRO-AM. The AM class saw ACI Motorsports and KRUGSPEED score their respective pole positions.
Silver Class
Jesse Webb rose to the top of the leaderboard quickly Qualifying One in his No. 34 Conquest Racing / JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 and remained there for the remainder of the session, setting up the team nicely in pole position for Race One later this afternoon. His flying lap time of 2:10.619 went unmatched as he sailed through the bumpy terrain of Sebring International Raceway.
Harry Gottsacker followed just 0.059 seconds behind in second place on board the No. 88 STR38 Motorsports BMW M4 GT4, with Kevin Boehm chasing him down in third position in the No. 92 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4.
The stakes continued to be raised for Qualifying Two as Parker Thompson and Kenton Koch were in a back and forth duel in the No. 999 Hanley Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO and the No. 92 Random Vandals Racing machine. They exchanged fastest laps to and fro, but as the final minutes ticked away it was Thompson who made it count to clinch pole position for Race Two. Koch will line up in second place, while Conquest Racing’s Michai Stephens secured another strong starting position for the team and will take the green flag from third on the grid.
PRO-AM Class
Matt Travis was the one to beat in the PRO-AM class in the first Qualifying session, not only clinching pole position in his No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, but also setting the third fastest time overall.
Ross Chouest will be lining up alongside Travis in the No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 for Race One, with Gray Newell also providing an excellent qualifying position for Aston Martin thanks to his third place result in the No. 24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
In Qualifying Two, it was Roman DeAngelis who further boosted up the No. 24 Heart of Racing Team car into the top spot, securing first place on the grid for Race Two and preventing the No. 47 NOLASPORT machine from scoring back-to-back pole positions with the likes of Jason Hart. The two drivers also set the third and fourth fastest times overall in the session. Meanwhile, Kay van Berlo set the third quickest time in the PRO-AM class in his No. 7 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
AM Class
Qualifying One truly came down to the wire in the AM Class, as the Top 3 were separated by the smallest of margins, split by only 0.018 seconds between them. Richard Edge was the one who came out on top in his No. 58 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, with the No. 26 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Rianna O'Meara-Hunt in second place by only hundredths of a second. Joining them is Nick Longhi in third in the No. 80 Crucial Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4.
As for Qualifying Two, it was Jaden Lander who stood out from the rest in his No. 72 KRUGSPEED Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO, as he set the fastest time in class ahead of Race Two, and also inserted himself into the Top 10 overall with an impressive time of 2:10.786.
Terry Borcheller had another strong qualifying performance in the No. 20 Carrus Callas Raceteam and will be starting Race Two second in class, but Roland Krainz was following extremely closely behind, just 0.004 seconds away in the No. 18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
LET’S GO
The series will be back on track for Race One at 5:00 p.m ET, followed by Race Two on Sunday at 10:50 a.m ET. Fans can follow progression with Griiip Live, live timing. The studio makes it easy to follow class battles, lap times, and pit strategy for the five SRO America series. Stream the races live on the YouTube page, GT World or join the conversation on Twitch.