BimmerWorld Racing made it clear in GT World Challenge America Practice 1 from Sebring, that they’re not to be discounted as a factor in the chase for the Pro-Am championships.
During the first practice session, the #94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3 of Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen became the first car to break the two-minute mark. Just before half-time in the 60-minute session, Auberlen took the burly Bimmer to the top of the timing sheets with a best lap of 1’59.845.
In a productive session with no red flags or other stoppages, every team completed a full practice programme as temperatures rose gradually from their starting points of 28°C ambient / 37°C surface at the start of the practice.
In a close second, was the #04 CrowdStrike with Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 of George Kurtz and Colin Braun, who set a time of 2’00.065. Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship leaders Charlie Luck and Jan Heylen were third-quickest in the #45 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-R.
The new kids on the block, the #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 of Manny Franco and Alessandro Balzan – continued their strong form from yesterday’s tests, as Balzan turned in a 2’00.123 to go fourth-fastest overall. The #91 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 (Jeff Burton/Corey Lewis) completed the top five, all occupied by Pro-Am cars.
Fastest in the Pro category, and sixth overall, was the #1 K-PAX Racing Lamborghini of Michele Beretta and Andrea Caldarelli. Beretta set his best lap of 2’00.259 on his last flying lap as he prepares to support Caldarelli’s bid for a second consecutive Drivers’ Championship in the Pro Cup category.
The sister #3 K-PAX Lamborghini (Misha Goikhberg/Jordan Pepper) was eighth overall, behind the #13 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari (Justin Wetherill/Ryan Dalziel) in seventh.
DXDT Racing’s #08 Qelo Capital AMG GT3 (Scott Smithson/Bryan Sellers) and the #96 Turner Motorsport M4 (Michael Dinan/Robby Foley) rounded out the top ten in the first practice session.
Just outside that top ten was the #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 (Ashton Harrison/Mario Farnbacher), in a close 11th place.
Cooler weather is anticipated for Practice 2, along with a slight chance of rain, at 3:15 PM local time.
Images © SRO Motorsports Group America
