Laurin Heinrich delivered a stellar performance to secure the first-ever GTD Pro pole position for AO Racing’s fan-favorite ‘Rexy,’ the iconic #77 Porsche 911 GT3.R, at the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s 27th edition of Petit Le Mans. The qualifying session at Road Atlanta unfolded under perfect conditions, with dry weather setting the stage for a thrilling battle.
The tension was palpable as teams vied not only for pole but also for crucial championship points. With a combined 32-car GT3 grid of both professional and non-professional entries, the stakes were high. Notably, the #023 and #13 cars opted out of the session, conserving their tire allocation for the grueling 10-hour endurance showdown ahead.
In a dramatic turn of events, a brief red flag halted proceedings with just nine minutes left on the clock. Debris from the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 littered Turn 10 after Daniel Serra’s contact, causing a delay. The incident led to penalties for Serra and Parker Thompson of the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3, with both losing their fastest two lap times.
When the session resumed with under seven minutes remaining, Heinrich capitalized, clocking an impressive 1:17.881 to clinch pole for ‘Rexy,’ marking a significant redemption after AO Racing’s post-qualifying disqualification at the Battle on the Bricks earlier in the season. Heinrich’s time narrowly edged out Tommy Milner’s #4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, who posted a 1:17.933, missing pole by a mere 0.052 seconds.
The #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, driven by Ross Gunn, claimed third position with a 1:18.041 lap, keeping the championship fight tight heading into the main event. Antonio Garcia slotted the #3 Corvette into fifth place, just behind Gunn, clocking a 1:18.085.
In the GTD class, Scott Andrews stood out as the undisputed pole-sitter, piloting the #80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG to a 1:18.281 lap time. Robby Foley’s #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 followed with a 1:18.539, while Phillip Ellis secured third in GTD with a 1:18.751 in the #57 Mercedes-AMG.
Further down the grid, Mike Skeen posted a 1:18.897 for the #32 Team Korthoff/Preston Mercedes-AMG, while Danny Formal rounded out the top five in GTD, clocking a 1:19.063 in the #78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown at Road Atlanta, with the race kicking off at 12:10 pm local time (5:10 pm BST). Fans and teams alike will be eagerly watching as the victors of GTD and GTD Pro are crowned in what promises to be an epic finale to the 2024 IMSA season.
