IMSA Watkins Glen: Battle between Mazda and Acura
1 MAZDA(55) AND 2 ACURA EXCHANGING TOP THREE TIMES; PFAFF MOTORSPORTS AND AIM VASSER SULLIVAN IN TOP 3 GTD
IMSA WeatherTech Championship Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen officially got under way this morning with a first practice for teams and drivers. A second practice took place this afternoon.
Under a blue sky and hot temperatures reaching 32 Celsius the battle for the quickest time in DPi seemed to be between Mazda and Acura in both sessions. the #55 Mazda of Bomarito/Tincknell/Pla came out on top in the first practice with the two Acura #7 of Castroneves/Ricky Taylor and #6 of Montoya/Cameron.
In the afternoon, the Acura of Castroneves/Ricky Taylor topped the time sheet followed by the #55 Mazda and the #7 Acura. Dane Cameron was at the wheel for the fastest lap of the #6 which was eight tenths of a second quicker than the Mazda.
In both session of the GTLM class, the #67 Ford Chip Ganassi of Briscoe/Westbrook led the class but again all 8 cars are separated by a mere eight tenths of a second.
The GTD class has been all about the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 of Magnus Racing who came out on top in both sessions.
Our Canadian presence did well with Pfaff Motorsports with Hargrove/Robichon and Lars Kern(who is back for the endurance race) placing second of the afternoon practice followed by AIM Vasser Sullivan #14 of Heistand/Hawksworth/Frommenwiler in third. The second AIM Vasser Sullivan entry of Montecalvo/Bell/Telitz placed 10th.
Land Motorsport by MONTAPLAST is back this weekend and this means Daniel Morad is back at the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3. He has Chris Mies and Riccardo Feller as teammates for the Six Hours race. They placed seventh in the afternoon practice. Once again, the top 12 are separated by one second.
A third practice takes place at 8am Saturday followed by qualifying just before lunch. With Mother Nature expected to open up the skies, that may just shuffle the grid for the final placing of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen
Image: PMstills Photography
