Warm, clear weather and the sound of engines greeted the fans at VIRginia International Raceway as they took in the first practice session for the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge.
Reigning and outgoing GTD champions Paul Miller Racing got their weekend off to a great start as the #1 BMW M4 GT3 went fastest of all 23 cars in the opening practice session. Madison Snow’s best time of 1:43.561, set early in the 90-minute practice, was more than half a second clear of the rest of the field – and that time surpassed the current GTD Pro course record set in 2022 (1:43.953 by Ross Gunn).
Snow is only two-tenths off the outright record for IMSA GT3 machinery, a 1:43.356, also set by Gunn in the previous-generation Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
With his new co-driver Klaus Bachler at his side, GTD Pro championship leader Laurin Heinrich went second-fastest in the #77 AO Racing ‘Roxy’ Porsche 911 GT3 R.
Alexander Sims was third-fastest in the #3 Pratt Miller Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, ahead of Alex Riberas in the #23 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin in fourth.
Fifth-fastest overall and leading in GTD was the #70 Inception Racing McLaren GT3 EVO, with a best lap of 1:44.381 set by Frederik Schandorff.
Schandorff was a tenth quicker than the GTD championship-leading #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Philip Ellis, second in class and sixth overall.
The session ran clean and green from start to finish, though a few drivers had minor to moderate off-track excursions – including Harry Tincknell in the #64 Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3, who spun and hit the tyre barrier down at Oak Tree Corner and drove back to the pits with damage that should be repaired in time for Saturday’s second practice and Qualifying sessions.
The #86 MDK Motorsports Porsche of Anders Fjordbach also lost some track time after running off course on his way into the esses, but nothing severe.
Practice 2 starts tomorrow at 10:15 AM EDT (local time).
Images © Jake Galstad / IMSA
