Indianapolis, Ind. - The Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX team flew to the overall GT World Challenge America powered by AWS Series pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday afternoon. The GMG Racing Audi team had the fastest time in the GT4 category.
Held under sunny, 58-degree Fahrenheit weather conditions, the 45-minute qualifying session was divided into three, 15-minute heats with the aggregate from all three heats taken to set the pole for Sunday's GT World Challenge contest as well as form the lineup for this afternoon's Indianapolis 8 Hour top 10 shootout.
In the early stages of the first heat, Trent Hindman in the #93 Racers Edge Motorports Acura NSX GT3 Evo went to the top with a 1:23.758, good for third overall and tops in the World Challenge sheets at the time. Martin Fuentes, in the Pro/Am championship leading #1 Squadra Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 posted a 1:25.035, good for sixth overall and second on the World Challenge sheets, while George Kurtz, slotted into 10th overall and third on the World Challenge scoring screens with a 1:27.187 behind the wheel of the DXDT Racing's #04 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Throughout the session Kurtz consistently went quicker (1:27.007, 1:26.745, 1:26.527). Hindman then went faster to a 1:23.308 good for fourth overall at the time and tops in GT World Challenge.
In GT4, James Sofronas, in the #8 Audi R8 LMS GT4 went to top with a 1:30.737, followed by Bill Auberlen in the #82 Bimmerworld BMW M4 GT4 (1:31.006) and Jon Miller behind the wheel of the #438 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4 (1:32.575). At the checkered to close out the first heat, Hindman's time held for the fastest, while Sofronas' posting held for the fast time in GT4.
In the second heat, Fuentes went to the top with a 1:25.149, followed by Colin Braun now behind the wheel of the #04 machine (1:25.965). Fuentes then went quicker to a 1:24.926, before Hindman bested the driver of the #1 machine with a 1:23.457.
In GT4, Sabo now in the #8 machine had the fastest time of the session with a 1:31.682, followed by Patrick Gallagher, in the #33 Notlad Racing by RS1 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 (1:32.017), and Robin Liddell in the #2 GMG Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS MR
(1:32.168).
In the third heat, Balzan in the #1 machine went to the top early with a 1:24.352, before Blackstock now in the #93 machine moved to the top of the GT World Challenge sheets (1:23.524).
In GT4, Andy Lee, now in the #8 machine posted the fastest time of the session with a 1:31.330, while Taylor now in the #33 Aston Martin has the second fastest time (1:31.803). Dylan Murry, in the #69 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS MR, had the third fastest time (1:32.110).
Results are provisional until posted final. Of note, the Squadra Corse Ferrari team will start on pole in the Pro/Am division. GT World Challenge drivers now get set for Sunday's finale race of the season, while all competitors look to this afternoon's Indianapolis 8 Hour top 10 shootout scheduled for a green flag start of 5:30 pm local time. Follow all of the action at www.gt-world-challenge-america.com.
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PROVISIONAL RESULTS - PDF Link