The qualifying session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship took place under challenging weather conditions. The rain poured relentlessly on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course, forcing all teams to switch to rain tires. As the session progressed, the rain eased in certain areas, leading to changing track conditions and improved lap times.
Deletraz Secures Pole Position
In the final seconds of the session, Louis Deletraz showcased his skill by putting together a fantastic lap in the #10 Acura ARX-06, securing pole position. Despite dealing with a slight disruption caused by the #5 JDC Miller MotorSports Porsche 963 of Mike Rockenfeller, Deletraz managed to clock a remarkable time of 1m15.402s.
Sebastien Bourdais impressed by piloting the #01 Cadillac V-Series.R for Chip Ganassi Racing to the second spot on the starting grid, just 0.230s behind Deletraz. Meanwhile, Augusto Farfus from BMW M Team RLL secured the third position, trailing by 0.329s.
In the LMP2 class, Ben Keating produced a stunning last-gasp flyer in the #52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports LMP2 ORECA 07. Keating clocked an impressive time of 1m13.859s, edging out Steven Thomas from TDS Racing by a mere 0.020s. This remarkable lap not only secured Keating class pole but also marked the fastest overall lap of the day.
Glenn van Berlo, driving Andretti Autosport’s #36 Ligier JS P320, showcased his talent by claiming the top spot in the LMP3 class. Berlo recorded a lap time of 1m16.674s, edging out Rasmus Lindh from JDC Miller MotorSports in the #85 Duqueine D08 by 0.129s.
In the GTD Pro class, Jack Hawksworth guided the #14 Lexus RC F GT3 for Vasser Sullivan to the class pole, posting a flying lap time of 1m23.168s. Mirko Bortolotti from Iron Lynx secured the second position, trailing Hawksworth by 0.360s in the #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
Heart of Racing’s Ian James put on a show in the GTD class, capitalizing on the changing track conditions. Starting with a wet track that gradually dried out, James clocked a quick lap of 1m23.116s in the #27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 to snatch the class pole position. Doriane Pin from Iron Dames finished in second place, trailing James by a distant 0.679s in the #83 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. Aaron Telitz driving the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 claimed the third spot, finishing 0.731s off the pole position time.
Despite the persistent rain and ever-changing track conditions, the qualifying session for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship delivered intense competition. Drivers showcased their skill and adaptability on the wet road course, battling for the coveted pole positions in their respective classes. With the stage set for the main race, fans can expect an action-packed event filled with thrilling overtakes and strategic maneuvers.
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