RS1 Continues GT4 Qualifying Mastery at Road America
The #18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Stevan McAleer and Eric Filgueiras proved to be the class of the field at Road America during GT4 America qualifying this morning.
McAleer took pole for Race 1 later today by over a second, while Filgueiras held on for the Race 2 pole that he’ll start from tomorrow.
It took just two laps for McAleer to put the outright and Silver Cup pole positions out of reach in Qualifying 1. The 2’17.169 on his first flying lap was already the fastest time of the weekend thus far.
But then the sensational Scot completely shattered that benchmark and set a 2’15.829 before coming to the pits with time to spare.
McAleer took pole by over a second over the #34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 of young Canadian Gavin Stevens, in second.
The former NASCAR journeyman Kevin Conway was third-quickest aboard the #68 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4, and Mike Skeen in the new #59 G2 Racing/GSport BMW M4 GT4 was fourth.
Gray Newell took the Pro-Am pole in Race 1 for he and co-driver Ian James, fifth-fastest overall in the #24 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, ahead of the #51 AutoTechnic Racing M4 GT4 of Austen Smith.
The #52 AutoTechnic Racing M4 GT4 of Tom Capizzi was second in Pro-Am, followed by the #120 Premier Racing Cayman RS of Adam Adelson.
In the Am Cup, the Race 1 pole sitter is the #80 Rooster Hall Racing M4 GT4 of Jaden Schwartz (with Todd Brown). Championship leader Charlie Postins qualified second in class and 12th overall in the #36 BimmerWorld Racing M4 GT4, followed by the #19 NOLASPORT Cayman RS of Alain Stad.
After practice yesterday, the Toyotas looked to be the strongest. Aaron Telitz reinforced that strength by breaking out to an early advantage in Qualifying 2 aboard the #69 Smooge Racing GR Supra.
But Filgueiras was able to match that pace, surpassing Telitz’s time of 2’16.962 with a 2’16.497. It was a compelling shootout between two evenly matched drivers.
Ultimately, the duel went the way of the Silver Cup points co-leader Filgueiras, who set a 2’16.122 on his second flying lap, versus a 2’16.375 from Telitz. But Telitz’s time was still good enough to put he and co-driver Todd Coleman on the front row for Race 2 tomorrow, and to give Telitz – a Wisconsin native – the Pro-Am pole.
Third overall and second in Pro-Am was the #15 BSPort Racing Vantage GT4 of Bryan Putt and Kenton Koch, ahead of the #8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Vantage GT4 (Elias Sabo/Andy Lee), another Pro-Am entry.
Terry Borcheller continued his fine form from yesterday by putting the #20 Carrus Callas Raceteam GR Supra (with Nick Shanny) in fifth place overall and giving them the Am Cup pole.
John Geesbreght was sixth in the #68 Smooge Racing GR Supra, ahead of Elliott Skeer in the #120 Premier Racing Cayman RS, and John Capestro-Dubets in the #52 AutoTechnic M4 GT4, then Ian James in the #24 Heart of Racing Vantage GT4.
Race 2 begins at 4:05 PM local time.
Images © Brian Cleary, Fred Hardy, Regis Lefebure / SRO Motorsports Group America
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