- Q1: RS1 takes PRO Pole, DXDT Claims Fastest lap in PRO-AM
- Q2: Racers Edge Motorsports Quickest in PRO, TRG Clinches Pole in PRO-AM and overall best time
- RealTime Racing Mercedes-AMG of Andy Pilgrim and Anthony Bartone AM Pole
- Qualifying 1 Results
- Qualifying 2 Results
Avondale, Louisiana - The clouds were looming over NOLA Motorsports Park for the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS qualifying sessions, as drivers gave it their all in the fight for top spots on the grid ahead of both races this weekend.
Four manufacturers prevailed across all three classes during Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2, with Porsche, Acura, Mercedes and Aston Martin claiming the fastest laps in their respective categories.
Qualifying One
PRO Class
Manny Franco jumped to the top of the leaderboard early in the session as he wrestled his No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 around the track, but Eric Filgueiras came storming through in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche GT3 R 992 to reclaim the top spot in the Pro class.
This marks Filgueiras’ second pole position of the season, and the RS1 team will be accompanied by Conquest Racing with Ferrari starting alongside them in second position for Race One. The No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 of Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher, who set the top times in both practice sessions yesterday, will start right behind them in third. Harrison was only 0.031 faster than Chandler Hull in the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3, who will start from the second row as well. The No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche GT3 R 992 of Seth Lucas and Trenton Estep rounded off the top five of Qualifying 1.
PRO-AM and AM Classes
Scott Smithson laid a rapid time of 1:34.663, which was not only fast enough to claim pole position in class, but also the third-fastest time overall. He will start from pole position in Race One on board his No. 08 DXDTracing Mercedes-AMG GT3, accompanied by Adam Adelson who will be lining up beside him in second in the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii). Pedro Torres put in a solid effort in the No. 16 ACI Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3-R (991.ii) and secured the final spot in the top three. The No. 04 Crowdstrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 of George Kurtz and Colin Braun will start from the fourth position, with Derek DeBoer and Ross Gunn rounding off the top five in their No. 007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3.
Anthony Bartone will start from pole position in the AM Class in his No. 43 RealTime Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Qualifying Two
PRO Class
As racers handed over their mighty machines to their co-drivers to set the field for Race Two, there was still everything to play for. All eyes were concentrated on the battle between Mario Farnbacher and Stevan McAleer, as spectators waited in anticipation to see if RS1 would claim another pole or if Racers Edge Motorsports would snatch it away. It was ultimately the German that reigned victorious, putting the Acura NSX GT3 EVO22 in first place for Race Two.
Bill Auberlen took over the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 from his teammate and moved up by one position to third place for the second race, with Trenton Estep setting up the No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche GT3 R 992 in fourth position. Italian driver Alessandro Balzan completed the top five with the No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3.
PRO-AM Class
The second qualifying session was just as thrilling, with Frenchman Valentin Hasse Clot charging forward and claiming the fastest time on board the No. 007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, in addition to setting the quickest time overall in Qualifying Two. He was followed by Belgian driver Jan Heylen in the No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche GT3 R 992, who missed out on pole position by only 0.039.
John Edwards in the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 brought heat to the table and challenged Heylan for the second place, but had to ultimately settle in third place with a time of 1:33.053. Colin Braun went fourth quickest in his No. 04 Crowdstrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3, enough to edge out Corey Lewis in the No. 91 DXDTracing Mercedes-AMG GT3 who rounded off the top five.
Andy Pilgrim took over the No. 43 RealTime Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 and will be lining up first in the AM class for Race Two.
LET’S GO
Race One will commence at 3:10 PM CT, followed by Race Two on Sunday, April 30 at 1:45 PM CT to close out the weekend.
All qualifying and race sessions are streamed live on the GT World YouTube page. Join Ash Vandelay on Twitch by following the SROMotorsports channel. Vandelay hosts six-hour programs Saturday and Sunday, where she is joined by drivers while chatting with fans and giving an interesting insight into that day's races.
Tickets are on-sale at www.showpass.com/sro-nola with enhanced offerings including the Patriot Car Corral, recently announced car show – NOLA Motor Showoff presented by The Bomb Factory – and trackside camping. Starting at just $10, it's fun for the whole family with kids 12 and under free with paid adults.