Only three milliseconds separated LMP2 ringers Louis Deletraz and Renger van der Zande in Practice 1 for the IMSA Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Deletraz in the #99 AO Racing ORECA LMP2 07 set the fastest time of the session very early on with a 1:07.895, to displace the #8 Tower Motorsports ORECA of Van der Zande from the top spot. Both drivers are filling in for LMP2 regulars Paul-Loup Chatin and Charlie Eastwood, who are racing in Saõ Paulo this weekend.
They were followed by the two United Autosports USA cars in third and fourth, the #2 of Ben Hanley, just ahead of the #22 of Filipe Albuquerque, another GTP star racing in LMP2 this weekend.
Albuquerque’s co-driver Dan Goldburg brought out the only red flag halfway into the 90-minute session when he spun off to the left at Whites Corner. Goldburg avoided contact with the barriers and the No.22 car completed the full session.
Defending CTMP overall race winner Colin Braun was fifth-fastest in the #04 CrowdStrike Racing by APR ORECA.
Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports finished 1-2 in GTD Pro in the session, led by the #3 Corvette of Alexander Sims. Sims put in a late flyer at 1:15.696 to displace the sister #4 car of Nicky Catsburg from the top spot by just 0.018s.
Despite Sims spinning at Moss Corner just as the chequered flag came out, it’s a good start to the weekend for the works Corvette team, which is still seeking its first IMSA victory with the new Z06 GT3.R.
The #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Mario Farnbacher was third-fastest in GTD Pro, followed by Bryan Sellers in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3, and GTD Pro points leader Seb Priaulx in the #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.
GTD was led by the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW driven by Robby Foley, with Frederik Schandorff in second aboard the No.70 Inception Racing McLaren GT3 EVO.
Championship leader Philip Ellis was fourth-fastest in GTD driving the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The only car that wasn’t able to set a representative time was the No.55 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3, which did only two laps due to a clutch problem.
The start of the weekend also sees confirmation that the #43 Andretti Motorsport Porsche has withdrawn. The car normally driven by Jarett Andretti and Gabby Chaves had no confirmed drivers listed on the provisional entry list.
Practice 2 starts tomorrow at 10:35 AM EDT.
Feature image © Michelin Racing USA
