Jack Hawksworth conquered the first position in the GTD Pro classification for the 12 Hours of Sebring by setting the fastest time in the IMSA qualifying session on Friday.
The driver of #14 Vasser Sullivan achieved an unbeatable time of 1:58.714, ensuring that his Lexus RC F GT3 will lead the GT category in Saturday’s endurance race. Alongside him on the front row will be Philip Ellis of Winward Racing, who was the fastest GTD driver.
A total of 34 competitors in the GTD Pro and GTD classes tackled the challenging Sebring International Raceway in Florida at 12:50 local time (16:50 local time) for the fifteen-minute qualifying session.
After warming up their tires, Mario Farnbacher set the first competitive lap, one of seven cars to break the two-minute mark. He led with a lap time of 1:59.264 in the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO.
Hawksworth then broke the 1:59 barrier, setting a lap time of 1:58.714 that ultimately secured him the pole position.
With a few minutes remaining, Hawksworth and Farnbacher found themselves separated by three GTD drivers in the overall classification. Philip Ellis (#57 Mercedes-AMG GT3), Antonio Fuoco (#47 Ferrari 296 GT3), and Parker Thompson (#12 Lexus RC F GT3) all posted impressive times.
Ellis’ time of 1:58.778 placed him second overall and was the fastest among the GTD competitors, surpassing Fuoco of GTD Cetilar Racing Ferrari by 0.236 seconds, who in turn was 0.129 seconds faster than Thompson in the Lexus GTD.
Farnbacher secured fifth position on the grid as the second fastest GTD Pro driver, completing a lap around the Sebring circuit in 1:59.264 with the #23 Aston Martin.
Mikael Grenier in car #32 Korthoff Mercedes-AMG recorded the fourth best time among GTD drivers, clocking in at 1:59.350. Next up was Seb Priaulx in the Porsche 911 GT3 R #77 Rexy AO Racing, the third fastest driver in GTD Pro, with a time of 1:59.446.
Alexander Sims in the Corvette Z06 GT3.R #4 Pratt Miller secured the eighth overall position and was the fourth fastest driver in GTD Pro, completing a lap in 1:59.508.
Franck Perera in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 #19 Iron Lynx rounded out the top five in GTD Pro, securing the ninth overall position with a lap time of 1:59.517.
Loris Spinelli in the Lamborghini Huracan #78 Forte Racing completed the top five in GTD and recorded the 13th fastest time among all GT competitors, finishing with a time of 1:59.797.
