The #11 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R set the fastest time in the first of two GT World Challenge America practice sessions at Road America, while in the afternoon session, it was the #34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO which led the way.
DXDT’s Matt Bell set the benchmark very early on in the #11 Corvette, setting a string of fast laps right out of the gate. He kept improving to a final time of 2:04.372, which was almost a half-second quicker than the next car; this time stood as the best time of the day once both practices were complete.
Reinforcing the potential of the #11 DXDT Corvette this weekend, co-driver Blake McDonald set the fastest time in both GT America series practices, using the same car.
In second place was Jan Heylen in the #18 RS1 Porsche 911 GT3 R, followed by a pair of Mercedes-AMGs – the #34 JMF Mercedes of Michai Stephens, and the #91 Regulator Racing Mercedes of Philip Ellis.
Rounding out the top five from the session was the #50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Corvette of Aaron Povoledo, then Darren Turner in the #24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3, and Pro class points leader Kenton Koch in the #99 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
In the second session, JMF Motorsports’ Mercedes-AMG led the way courtesy of official Performance Driver, Mikaël Grenier. The French-Canadian’s best lap was 2:04.701, three-tenths off Bell’s best from Practice 1.
Tom Sargent was second-fastest in the #32 GMG Racing Porsche, ahead of Bell, whose #11 Corvette led Practice 2 early on before being surpassed by Grenier on the timing tower
Ellis and Heylen were fourth and fifth, and Connor De Phillippi was sixth in the #99 Random Vandals BMW.
With 20 minutes to go, the red flag came out after the #24 Heart of Racing Aston Martin of Turner had an accident at the Kink (turn 11). Simultaneously, Jay Schriebman’s #163 AF Corse USA Ferrari stopped in the final sector, but was good to return to the track in the final eight minutes of track time – his co-driver Oswaldo Negri Jnr was eighth-quickest overall in the session.
Pro-Am championship leaders Turner Motorsport were tenth-fastest out of 15 cars in both Practice sessions.
Qualifying for this weekend’s GT World Challenge America races starts tomorrow at 10:35 AM CT (local time).
Images © Fabian Lagunas / SRO Motorsports America
