SRO America’s multi-class sprint offering for non-Pro single driver efforts gets its 2022 season underway on the streets of St Petersburg this weekend with a double header of races and a healthy 27 car entry.
Thursday saw a pair of free practice sessions.
Free Practice One
With the warm Florida sun high in the sky, Jason Daskalos set the fastest time of the session with a 1:14.821 in his #27 Daskalos Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra in SRO3, 0.519 seconds quicker than David Askew piloting the #63 DXDT Racing Mercedes AMG-GT3, followed by George Kurtz in his #4 CrowdStrike Racing Mercedes AMG-GT3 who laid down a 1:15.476.
Early in the session, a spin in Turn 1 led to light contact between George Kurtz in the #4 CrowdStrike Racing Mercedes AMG-GT3 and Jason Bell in the #2 GMG Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, causing a brief red flag.
In GT4, the top quickest times were all under the black, red, and gold flag, with the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport occupying the top two spots in an invitational class, followed by a BMW M4 GT4 and Mercedes AMG-GT4.
In an invitational class, Robb Holland clocked the fastest lap of 1:19.106 in his #99 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, followed by Adam Adelson with a 1:19.969 behind the wheel of the #120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.
Marko Radisic, in his return to the SRO competition, took the top spot in GT4 in his #22 SRQ Motorsports BMW M4 GT4 with a 1:20.464. Setting the second-fastest lap time in GT4 was Chris Cagnazzi in his #39 Mercedes-AMG GT4. Finishing off the top three spots was Derek DeBoer in the #66 TRG- Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with a 1:20.713.
Free Practice Two
As the sun began to set on the streets of St. Pete, Jason Daskalos once again set the fastest time of the session with a 1:13.688 in his #27 Daskalos Motorsports Audi R8 LMS in SRO3. Jason Hayward was next in the #88 Zelus Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3, setting an 1:13.873, followed by Scott Smithson in the #8 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with a 1:14.033.
Jeff Burton in the #191 Zelus Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan GT3 made contact with the wall later in the session, but still managed to pull off a 1:14.292, just outside of the top three.
In GT4 Invitational, Robb Holland in the #99 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport laid down a 1:18.422, while Adam Adelson recorded a 1:19.079 in his #120 Premier Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, both faster to the line over Practice Session No. 1.
In GT4, it was the Aston Martins’ turn to lay down some of the fastest laps. Jason Bell recorded a 1:19.717 in his #2 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, while Chris Cagnazzi set a 1:20.019 in his #39 Cameron Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4. Finishing off the top three was Bryan Putt in the #15 BSport Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 with a 1:20.567
Following a brief early morning practice session tomorrow, February 25th, qualifying begins at 8:45 AM Eastern.
Pics Brian Cleary/ SRO
