Pre-Qualifying Gives Full Field Dry Track Time At IMS After Rainy Night Practice

Pre-Qualifying Gives Full Field Dry Track Time At IMS After Rainy Night Practice

RS1 Fastest Overall, FGTCA PRO
WRT Continues to Dominate IGTC PRO
Triarsi Competizione Quickest PRO-AM, Second Overall
Pre-Qualifying Results


Sunny, clear skies and lower temperatures gave Intercontinental GT World Challenge and Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS competitors, near-perfect track conditions. In normal Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS scheduling the afternoon session would be a final practice. The Pre-Qualifying classification of the session allows the series an option should Qualifying be abandoned. However, with nothing but sunshine in the forecast, there should be nothing in the way of today's 3:35 p.m. ET Qualifying and Pole Shootout scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

WRT, BMW Continue to Dominate IGTC PRO Class
Charles Weerts with the No. 31 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 had no issues setting the fastest lap time again in the IGTC PRO Class. He and teammates Augusto Farfus and Maxime Martin will want to reproduce, if not better, their Pre-Qualifying lap time of 1:23.380, which had them fifth fastest in the full field. Sister car No. 31 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 of Sheldon Van Der Linde, Philipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor was second fastest in the class.

Joining the competition for the first time this weekend was the No. 77 Mercedes-AMG Team Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The three drivers each earned time behind the wheel, acquainting themselves with the car and track. The No. 999 Mercedes-AMG Team Gruppe M Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 rounded out the IGTC PRO Class field. It was the first time drivers Daniel Juncadella, Luca Stolz and Maro Engel took the track this weekend as well. 

RS1 Leads Overall and FGTCA PRO Class
Klaus Bachler in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R set the fast lap in the FGTWCA PRO Class and overall. His Best Lap time of 1:23.253 set the session pace. 2022 PRO-AM Class winners BimmerWorld had Robbie Foley set their fastest lap time of 1:23.651 in the No. 94 BMW M4 GT3. Jan Heylen paired with Madison Snow and Trent Hindman in the No. 45 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R was third in class. 


Kyle Marcelli received time to acquaint himself in the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 and was fourth quickest in the class. Ashton Harrison and Mario Farnbacher shared driving duties as well. Seth Lucas also took his first laps with teammate Matteo Cairoli in the No. 53 MDK Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. The No. 21 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 spent time in the garage as the team continued dialing in certain aspects of their record-setting car. 

Triarsi Competizione, Ferrari Mainstay on Leaderboard
Justin Wetherill in the No. 33 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3, topped the charts in the PRO-AM Class with a 1:23.297, he was second fastest overall. The lap time is a reminder to fans that the classes are designated by driver rating not car capability. Alfred Renauer in the No. 20 Huber Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R was second fastest in the class and third overall with a lap time of 1:23.358. Vesko Kozarov in the No. 85 Rearden Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R set a lap time of 1:23.533 to finish the session third in class with co-drivers Jake Pederson and Christian Engelhart. 


Neil Verhagen has mastered the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3 but was fourth fastest in class this session. Colin Braun and George Kurtz with Nolan Siegel were able to get on track for the first time in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3. The ended Pre-Qualifying fifth fastest overall. 

Let’s Go Racing
Qualifying goes green at 3:35 p.m. ET later today, with each of the three nominated drivers having a session to push their limits. Top entries participate in a Pole Shootout at 6:45 p.m. to finalize the grid. It all comes to a peak on Saturday, Oct. 7, for the Indianapolis 8-Hour presented by AWS.  The start of the race is celebrated with a fan walk open to all ticket holders. Joining in the fun will be the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders, Blue, the Gordon Pipers, and more. The green flag flies for the endurance classic at 12:15 p.m.