GT America powered by AWS qualifying at Road America had the ideal setup as the weather once again favored the GT series. Cool temperatures and sunny skies gave competitors the near-perfect setup for the 15-minute session. Memo Gidley and Elias Sabo walked away with their respective class pole positions.
Two practice sessions prefaced qualifying and Race One. The field of 28 splits between the SRO3 Class and GT4 Class had a smooth day with minimal damage done to the less fortunate ones. Jason Daskalos and Memo Gidley are fighting for the lead in the SRO3 Points Championship, while Ross Chouest, Jason Bell, and Robb Holland sort out the lead in the GT4 Class.
SRO3 Class
Memo Gidley secured pole position in the No. 101 TKO Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3. Gidley took the top spot with a lap time of 2:03.518. A last-lap flyer by Anthony Bartone in the No. 427 RealTIme Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 gave him the position behind Gidley on grid. His lap was a 2:03.622. George Kurtz in the No. 04 CrowdStrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3 followed Gidley in third with a lap time of 2:03.907.
Scott Smithson showed speed, he’ll start the race fourth after pushing the No. 08 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to a 2:04.311 lap. He was followed by Adam Adelson. The first non-Mercedes on the grid is the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R. Adelson’s Best Lap time was a 2:05.120.
GT4 Class
Elias Sabo mimicked Bartone with a last-lap flyer. The No. 8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 took pole in the GT4 Class with a 2:15.946. Gray Newell will tuck in behind Sabo in his No. 25 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4. He starts second after turning a lap of 2:15.972. Starting in third is Tony Gaples in the No. 5 Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro GT4 R, who set a 2:16.068 lap.
Robb Holland was not far off Gaples as his No. 099 Rotek Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport laid down a lap time of 2:16.075 for the fourth spot on the grid. Rounding out the Top 5 is Jason Bell in the No. 2 Flying Lizard Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Let’s Go Racing
The grid is set for Race One goes green today at 12:55 p.m. CT. Drivers take on the 40-minute race for a right to stand atop the podium and to set the grid for Race Two on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 8:45 a.m. Stream the races on the YouTube channel GT World and join the half million fans who subscribe. Join the conversation with Ash Vandelay on Twitch, where the race is live-streamed while fans submit questions and commentary.