The #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 led Friday morning’s first Free Practice around the streets of Long Beach, California.
Filipe Albuquerque was the quickest driver for most of the 55-minute session, but after co-driver Ricky Taylor got aboard Wayne Taylor Racing’s Acura, he set some fast times in the final minutes – including a 1’11.942 on his last flying lap.
That was eight-tenths better than the second-best time recorded by Tom Blomqvist in the #60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura. The two Porsche Penske Motorsports 963s finished third and fourth with the #6 of Mathieu Jaminet – sporting a new chassis this weekend – ahead of the #7 of Matt Campbell.
The #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R (Sébastien Bourdais/Renger van der Zande) spent much of the session in its pit stall but did get out on track to run laps, and finished seventh overall.
Held in cool and overcast conditions, Practice 1 started a few minutes late due to radio communication issues in the preceding Porsche Carrera Cup practice – and it was shortened from its original 60-minute time limit. But once Practice got underway, it proceeded without any incidents more dramatic than a few cars going off into the runoff at noted hot spots like the tight turn one off East Shoreline Boulevard.
Last year’s GTD Pro class winners, the #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Ross Gunn and Alex Riberas, started off on the right foot with the fastest time in GTD Pro and across all GTD entries. Riberas set a 1’19.303 on his last flying lap, to edge the #14 VasserSullivan Lexus RC F GT3 of Jack Hawksworth by 0.071 seconds.
The #92 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R was the quickest car in GTD during the morning session. Alec Udell, who is joined this weekend by Jeroen Bleekemolen, set a session-leading 1’19.488 in the final five minutes
Antonio Garcia was third-fastest in GTD Pro aboard the #3 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R GTD, while Loris Spinelli in the #78 Forte Racing by USRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 and defending class winner Bryan Sellers in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 rounded out the top three in GTD.
Practice 2 is scheduled to begin at 12:45 PM PDT (local time), followed by Qualifying at 5:10 PM.
