Whether or not it is back-to-back or three-in-a-row — the groups set to steer Saturday’s IMSA race area on the historic streets of Lengthy Seaside this weekend have managed to indicate their dominance within the sequence (or Lengthy Seaside) and are ensuring to take care of their stake in that ‘main’ declare.
This weekend, solely the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) vehicles are on obligation. Within the GTP class, it is the #24 BMW M Workforce RLL that took pole for the third time in a row this season, with Dries Vanthoor who’s new to the Lengthy Seaside observe. Vanthoor’s 1:11.539 quickest lap was simply .250 forward of fellow RLL teammate Sheldon Van Der Linde (additionally a first-timer at Lengthy Seaside) within the #25.
The technique for Vanthoor and the #24 BMW heading into the race is sustaining perfection. “We simply have to execute an ideal race, myself as nicely,” he instructed media. “But additionally as a group we simply have to verify we execute every thing completely. Be certain that we do not make any errors within the pits. Be certain that I do not make any errors on observe… that is what we now have to do. That is what we have been missing the final couple of races.
“You do not all the time get an excellent automotive to be on pole on a regular basis, so we additionally should capitalize on that.”
That incident over the past third of the race at Sebring between the #24 and the #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing automotive continues to be contemporary in Vanthoor’s thoughts. The collision after the #60’s unsafe launch despatched the #24 behind the wall, the place it returned within the final two hours, 31 laps down. It had began the race because the pole-sitting lead.
Sitting behind the #24 and #25 BMWs are the 7 and #6 Workforce Penske Porsches, adopted by the #93 and #60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian vehicles. Struggling a bit seems to be the Cadillacs as an entire, with a near-incident between the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac and the #31 Cadillac Whelen automotive — it appeared the #31 was looking for a spot.
Picture by: Brandon Badraqui
In GTD, the Parker Thompson led the #12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus to pole for the second time in a row at Lengthy Seaside, including a vital 35 factors to the group’s standing within the GTD championship. Thompson made it look comparatively straightforward too, main an excellent portion of the last-half of the session. Taking on the second and third spots are the #177 AO Racing Porsche “Rexy” — operating as a GTD automotive this weekend — and the the #27 Coronary heart Of Racing Aston Martin.
A crushing disappointment popping out of the GTD qualifying session was Robert Wickenss qualifying. There’s been a great deal of pleasure surrounding the Canadian driver’s return to a top-tier motorsport sequence, operating the #36 DXDT Racing Corvette within the GTD class (with new hand controls developed by Bosch to make it attainable). Sadly, as he revealed in a post-qualifying interview, a Ferrari driving into the best rear of his automotive between turns 9 and 10 landed him a broken automotive to qualify in. His #36 automotive will begin eighth on the grid, Saturday.
You may catch the Acura Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside, Saturday, at 5:00pm ET on Peacock and the USA Community. Worldwide viewers can catch the dwell stream on IMSA’s official YouTube channel.
And keep up-to-date on our sports activities racing protection on the Motorsport.com IMSA hub.
Learn Additionally:
On this article
Lalita Chemello
IMSA
Parker Thompson
Dries Vanthoor
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing
Vasser Sullivan Racing
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