- DXDT, Chevrolet Sets Early Pace in SRO3
- JTR Motorsports Engineering, Toyota Ahead in GT4
- Practice 1 Results
It was a hot and steamy day at Sebring International Raceway as the GT America powered by AWS field took to the track for their first official practice session of the weekend. With just 30 minutes on the clock, drivers wasted no time getting familiar with the high-speed circuit and iconic bumps.
In the end, it was the rising stars who stole the show. Blake McDonald and Anthony McIntosh set the pace in their respective classes, leading the SRO3 and GT4 fields with impressive lap times.
SRO3 Class
Veteran Memo Gidley came out swinging early, piloting the No. 56 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVOII to the top of the charts and holding firm for much of the session. But as the track conditions improved, young Blake McDonald found his stride behind the wheel of the No. 11 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
McDonald steadily built his pace throughout the session, eventually clocking a fastest lap of 2:01.909, edging out Gidley by a slim margin of 0.498 seconds to finish the session on top.
Mirco Schultis put in a solid effort to go third quickest in the No. 70 MISHUMOTORS Callaway Corvette C7 GT3-R, while Kyle Washington in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R and Ross Chouest in the No. 50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R rounded out the top five.
GT4 Class
In GT4, it was who rose to the occasion, setting the benchmark time behind the wheel of the No. 69 JTR Motorsports Engineering Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4.
Farhan Siddiqi impressed early on in the session, putting his No. 20 FASTMD Racing with Remstar Audi R8 GT4 LMS into contention. However, in a late-session push, Michael Fitzpatrick made a last-ditch effort in the No. 89 89x Motorsports Toyota Gazoo Racing GR Supra GT4, securing second place on his final flying lap.
Let’s Get Racing
The GT America powered by AWS will return to the track for Practice 2 on Friday afternoon, May 16th at 8:30 AM ET.
If you can’t make it to Sebring International Raceway, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSebring.