Squadra Corse, Ferrari Pace GT World Challenge America Field in First Practice in Indy

Squadra Corse, Ferrari Pace GT World Challenge America Field in First Practice in Indy

Indianapolis, Ind. - The Squadra Corse Ferrari team topped the charts in the first GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Series practice session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Friday afternoon. The Notlad Racing, Aston Martin Vantage team topped the GT4 charts. 

Held under overcast skies, the 90-minute session saw 22-cars take to the 2.439 mile, 14-turn road course circuit for the combined GT World Challenge America, Indianapolis 8 Hour practice.

Led by Martin Fuentes, championship leaders Squadra Corse in the #1 Ferrari 488 GT3 slotted into the top spot early on with the driver from Mexico posting a 1:25.867. With Fuentes handing over the reins to Alessandro Balzan the Italian then pushed the #1 machine to the top with a 1:24.245. Colin Braun in the DXDT Racing's #04 Mercedes-AMG GT3 slotted into second on the charts with a 1:24.681. Mark Issa then took over from Balzan and posted a faster time in the #1 machine (1:24.129).

With Balzan back behind the wheel of the #1 machine the Italian improved on Issa's fast time and posted a 1:23.939 good at the time for the top spot in GT World Challenge and sixth overall on the combined IGTC charts.

Before the end of the session, Racer's Edge Motorsports driver Trent Hindman, behind the wheel of the #93 Acura-Honda NSX GT3 Evo slotted into second with a 1:24.189. 

In the GT4 class, James Clay, in the #82 Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4 went to the top early on with a 1:31.601, followed by GMG Racing's James Sofronas behind the wheel of the #8 Audi R8 LMS GT4 (1:31.848). Bill Auberlen, who took over for Clay, then took the #82 machine to an quicker time of 1:31.452, while Tim Barber in the #25 CCR Team TFB
moved up into second on the charts with a 1:31.571. Elias Sabo, who took over from Sofronas, then posted a 1:31.798 behind the wheel of the #8 machine, good for third at the time.

Patrick Gallagher then posted a 1:31.130, driving the #33 Notlad Racing by RS1 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 that would hold for the remainder of the session. Classic BMW driver Stevan McAleer in the #26 BMW M4 GT4 posted a 1:31.175 good for second on the GT4 charts, while Robin Liddell, behind the wheel of the second GMG Racing entry, the #2 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS MR had the third fastest time of the session with a 1:31.231.

Drivers now get set for Saturday morning's practice scheduled for 8:30am Eastern. Follow all of the action at www.gt-world-challenge-america.com.

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PROVISIONAL PRACTICE RESULTS - PDF Link