Lime Rock Park continues to deliver positive momentum for Team TGM in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
The Ted Giovanis-led squad scored its inaugural series win one year ago this weekend at the “bullring” with the No. 46 Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Owen Trinkler and Hugh Plumb. The team would go on to win two additional races on its way to the 2018 Grand Sport (GS) class championship.
During the 15-minute qualifying session for Saturday’s Lime Rock 120, Trinkler put the No. 46 first on the charts again with his second consecutive and third overall Motul Pole Award of the season with a time of 53.963 seconds (98.600 mph).
“I’m so happy for our team and Team TGM and Motul for doing this Pole Award,” said Trinkler. “This Mercedes-AMG GT4 did a great job here at Lime Rock Park. I’m so happy that we got the pole again. Threepeat for us and let’s see if we can just get the job done tomorrow.”
Trinkler’s pole position led a top-five field with five different manufacturers. The No. 39 Audi R8 GT4 for Carbahn Motorsports will start alongside Team TGM’s Mercedes-AMG on the front row.
After winning at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park two weeks ago, the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R for Rebel Rock Racing will start third next to the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 in fourth place. Starting fifth will be the No. 69 Motorsports In Action McLaren GT4.
Lewis Earns Second Career IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Motul Pole Award for Hyundai, Bryan Herta Autosport in TCR
Michael Lewis proved to be untouchable in Friday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR qualifying session at Lime Rock Park.
The series rookie posted the quickest sector time in all three of the track’s segments to earn his second Motul Pole Award of 2019 in the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster TCR N. Lewis quickly made himself comfortable at Lime Rock, having also paced Practice 1 this morning.
“First of all, thank you to Bryan Herta Autosport for providing me and (co-driver) Mark Wilkins this awesome Veloster N TCR,” said Lewis. “Hyundai is building a great machine and Bryan Herta Autosport is really putting it together well.
“The car rolled off the trailer very well and we were able to get it done in practice, get a good baseline and make it happen in qualifying. It was a great couple laps, a little bit stressful. There was some traffic that exited in front of us on our clear lap so just had to make some space and we went for it.”
Lewis and Wilkins will be driving for their second win of the season, after taking home the first Pilot Challenge victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for Hyundai and BHA in May.
Two other Pilot Challenge rookies followed suit behind Lewis in TCR. Alex Papadopulos, will start second in the No. 3 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giuietta TCR, while Brian Henderson qualified third in the No. 84 Atlanta Speedwerks Honda Civic TCR.
The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge 120 goes green on Saturday, July 20 at 11:10 a.m. ET. The race can be streamed live on IMSA.tv with IMSA Radio commentary. The NBCSN television broadcast will air on Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. ET.