- Ferrari, Porsche Claim PRO Class Pole Awards
- Locals Claim Pole Award for Pro-AM Class
- Results Quals One | Results Quals Two
The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS took to a still slick track from a rainy morning at Circuit Of The Americas as drivers battled for the Rowe Pole Award. The gorgeous stars and stripes of the American circuit became a bit more challenging as the track was not entirely wet or dry. Team selected slick tires, but drivers did approach with caution in their first laps as they found and created the dry line.
Due to the two-driver format of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America series splits the qualifying session into two, 15-minute groups. Driver One takes on the first session while Driver Two takes on the second session. From there, the grid is set for Race One.
PRO Class
Manny Franco sat atop the PRO Class field at the end of the Driver One qualifying session. Chandler Hull and Eric Filgueiras tried to bump him from the top spot, but Franco held on for the pole in Race One. Throughout the duration of the 15-minute session, it felt like anyone game as lap after lap a new leader was crowned. Ultimately, Franco turned seven laps to his competitor's six and it was the final lap that gave him the upper hand.
The No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 will start second and is followed by the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R in third. The No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R will start Race One fourth with the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 starting fifth.
Race Two will see the No. 28 RS1 Porsche GT3 R start from first. Steven McAleer never once gave his competition hope. The Scotsman dominated the session, he and the Porsche only grew stronger over the session. While McAleer firmly had pole he was still only tenths of a second ahead of the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3.
Race Two will see the No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 start third. A consistent No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R earned another fourth place starting position and is followed by the No. 94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3.
PRO-AM Class
Will Hardeman had the provisional pole after the first 15-minute session, a huge win for the Austin native and the Esses Racing with Mercedes Benz of Austin Team. This is the No. 19 Esses Racing with Mercedes-Benz of Austin Mercedes-AMG GT3 first pole. The team will have Race Two pole sitter George Kurtz at its door for the start of the race in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3. The No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3. Earned a third-place starting position. Starting fourth is sister car No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. The fifth-place starter is the No. 007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3.
Race Two will see the dominant No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 on the pole. Driver Colin Braun went tit for tat alongside Ryan Dalziel but came out on top. Dalziel will roll off the start line in second with the No. 33 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3. Third in the field was earned by the No. 9 of TR3 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Starting fourth in Race Two is the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R while the No. 007 TRG Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 starts fifth again.
AM Class
Anthony Bartone and Andy Pilgrim of No. 43 RealTime Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 continue designing Bartone’s future in the Am Class.
LET’S GO
The Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS field takes the green flag for Race One at 3:10 p.m. CT. The 90-minute spectacle is streamed live on the YouTube GT World page and on Twitch. Join Ash Vandelay as she streams the day live from COTA in the exclusive Paddock Club.