Wet Friday at ACURA Sports Car Challenge Mid-Ohio

A GOOD AMOUNT OF TEAMS AMONGST THE SERIES OPTED NOT TO RUN AT ALL FRIDAY AS RAIN WAS FALLING CONSTANTLY AT MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

As the forecast predicts a dry race on Sunday, and with two practice sessions scheduled for Friday, the first practice for WeatherTech only had 22 of the 36 cars on track. It must be said the conditions were far from ideal event to drive in the rain with several cars going off track and with the grass overloaded with water made for plenty of red flags to tow the cars back onto the track. For P2, the conditions improved somewhat with the light rain stopping just as the session got underway. Only 3 cars elected not to go on track.

At the end of P2, Mazda came out on top with the no.77 of Oliver Jarvis and Tristan Nunez. Followed in second place by the sister car no.55 of Jonathan Bomarito and Ryan Hunter-Reay who replaces Harry Thicknell for this weekend. Thicknell is at Spa racing in the WEC Spa 6 hours. Third was the no.84 JDC Miller-MotorSports of Simon Trummer and Stephen Simpson.

Patrick Pillet and Nick Tandy ended up fastest in the Porsche GT Team no. 911 for the GTLM class with the no. 912 in third. Second was no. 24 BMW Team RLL.

In the GTD class, the no. 14 AIM Vasser Sullivan RC F Gt3 of Richard Heistand and Jack Hawksworth top the time sheet ahead of Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R with Scott Hargrove and Zach Robichon. Third was Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. Compass Racing made their official debut with their McLaren 720S GT3 driven by Matt Plumb and Paul Holton. They ended P2 in 13th place.

Of note, Kenny Wilden ended P2 with the fastest time in the Michelin Challenge GS class on a drying track late afternoon. Compass Racing’s Kuno Wittmer finished fourth and AWA team of Scott Hargrove/Orey Fidani were in eight place. Kyle Marcelli and Jesse Lazare did not take part in the practice.

In the TCR class, Mark Wilkins and his Hyundai Veloster N TCR topped the time sheet. Mark Motors’ Audi RS3 LMS TCR driven by Marco Cirone and Remo Ruscitti were 10th and James Vance did not take part in P2.

Finally in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Alberta Parker Thompson had the quickest time of second practice ahead of Roman De Angelis. Our other Canadian, Jeff Kingsley had the fifth fastest time.

The weather looks more promising for Saturday and it is to start early for the WeatherTech Championship with a 60 minutes session at 8am. Followed by final practice for Michelin Challenge with qualifying immediately after. Then, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and Prototype Challenge and WeatherTech will have their qualifying.

After lunch, the Michelin Challenge will have their two hour race followed by the first Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama 45 minutes race.

Image: PMstills Photography