Grid set for Michelin Pilot four hour opener from Daytona tomorrow

Thursday, January 26, 2023

The first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Qualifying session is now in the bag ahead of tomorrow’s four-hour opener from the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

Having completed two further Free Practice sessions on top of those available to the attending teams at last weekend’s Roar before the 24 Official test saw one of the new Aston Martin Racing convertees secure the top slot amongst the eight Vantage GT4 crews that are entered into tomorrow’s race.

With third driver Wyatt Brichacek behind the wheel of the #19 Van Der Steur AMR, he claimed a P6 start in tomorrow’s race behind some more renowned names within the IMSA support series. First time within an Aston Martin only days before the Roar test saw Brichacek claim a best lap time of just 0.5 seconds behind the pole setting RS1 Porsche 718 GT4 of Stevan McAleer.

Two rows behind in P9 sees the #29 TR3 prepared Aston of Jon Branam secure pole position in the inter class Bronze Cup with a car he shares with fellow IMSA returnee Paul Kiebler.

The first of the two Team TGM Astons of Hugh and Matt Plumb was next quickest in P14 with Moisey Uretsky, Justin Piscitell and Michael Cooper claiming P17 in their colour #44 Baby Bull Racing entry with the dark green Archangel prepared car of Todd Coleman and Conrad Grunewald one place back in their first MPC qualifier together.

The new #09 Automatic Racing entry for Jim Jonsin, Brett Sandberg and Tom Long was next in P28 with the second Team TGM car of Ted Giovanis and Owen Trinkler in P29. The eight Astons were rounded off by the #9 Stoner Car Care entry of Ramin Abdolvahabi and Rob Ecklin in P30, some time off the class pole setting pace after having elected to skip the Roar test again in favour of endurance racing elsewhere.