First practice for the Six Hours at Watkins Glen began underneath overcast skies, but just 35 minutes into the 90-minute session, the rain began to fall over Watkins Glen International – setting the tone for a weekend where rain is in the forecast, along with the threat of thunder and lightning.
But before the rain came on this Friday afternoon, Colin Braun put the #60 Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-Agajanian Acura ARX-06 on top of the timesheets. Braun set a fastest time of 1’33.563, and as the rain began to fall harder, no car was able to come within a second of Braun’s fastest marker.
The two Porsche Penske Motorsports 963s followed, with the #7 of Felipe Nasr ahead of the #6 of Nick Tandy in second and third respectively.
In fourth was the #01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R of Renger van der Zande – this is the rebuilt chassis that suffered a heavy crash in the FIA WEC Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Behind him was the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac of Alexander Sims.
Fastest of the BMWs was Philipp Eng in the #24 BMW M Team RLL Hybrid V8, despite a spin in the opening minutes he was able to refocus and go sixth-quickest.
48 minutes in, TDS Racing’s super-sub John Falb went off at the Chute (turn six) and crashed into the tyre barriers, bringing out a Red Flag. Falb walked away from his damaged #35 TDS Racing Oreca LMP2 07 – he appears in place of an injured François Heriau.
The other TDS Racing Oreca, the #11, went quickest in Practice 1 as Mikkel Jensen set a 1’36.066. Ryan Dalziel was second-fastest in the Era Motorsport #18, followed by Ed Jones in the High Class Racing #20.
LMP3 returned to IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship action with Garett Grist leading the way, setting a 1’41.139 aboard the #30 Jr III Racing Ligier JS P320. Felipe Fraga went second-fastest in the #74 Riley Ligier, while Rasmus Lindh went third-fastest aboard the #85 JDC Miller Motorsports Duqueine D08.
Paul Miller Racing was fastest in GTD overall, with Bryan Sellers leading the way with a best lap of 1’46.457 aboard the #1 BMW. Sellers’ best time was just 0.066 seconds up on the #91 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 911 GT3 R of Jaxon Evans.
GTD Pro was led by the returning #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3, its best time was set by Daniel Serra – who was just 0.095 seconds back of the top time from Sellers.
Andy Lally was third-fastest in GTD aboard the #44 Magnus Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Bill Auberlen was second-quickest in GTD Pro in the #95 Turner Motorsport BMW, followed by Ross Gunn in the #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin.
Gradient Racing’s session was disrupted by a misfire in the engine of the #66 Acura NSX GT3, and the trio of Sheena Monk, Katherine Legge, and Marc Miller did not run in the rain.
All 57 cars will be back on track bright and early tomorrow morning as Practice 2 begins at 8:00 AM EDT (local time)!
Images courtesy of IMSA
