De Angelis Keeps on Rolling, Captures Porsche GT3 Cup Pole Position at Road America
Considering the manner in which he has dominated Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama competition in both the USA and Canada this season, it would surprise many to know Roman De Angelis was uncertain on his chances for qualifying Friday at Road America in the combined series event.
He shouldn’t have been. DeAngelis won the pole by nearly .7 seconds and will lead the 40-car field to the green flag in the first of two weekend races on Saturday.
De Angelis turned a lap of 2 minutes, 10.373 seconds in the No. 79 Porsche 991 fielded by Kelly-Moss Road and Race and Mark Motors Racing. Ethan Simioni was second in the No. 40 Policaro Motorsport Porsche 991 from GT3 Cup Canada.
“It was good,” said De Angelis, the 18-year-old from Belle River, Ontario. “Honestly, I didn’t think we would be as quick as we were. It didn’t feel great track-wise. Car-wise it felt great, but the surface itself was a bit greasy. It was pretty crazy to put in a lap like that.”
Competing in both the U.S. and Canadian versions of the GT3 Cup, De Angelis has been nearly unbeatable – winning seven of eight races to date in each series this season. Still, he wasn’t taking anything for granted based on his previous Road America experiences.
“I always do really bad here, so this is a good feeling,” he said. “I struggled a lot here last year and the year before in (GT3 Cup) Gold, so this feels really good.
“It’s a good way to start the weekend.”
Both Porsche GT3 Cup races stream live on IMSA.tv. The first race airs at 12:20 p.m. ET Saturday and the second at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
Motorsports in Action McLaren Leads Michelin Pilot Challenge Practice
Jesse Lazare and Corey Fergus finished a strong day atop the chart in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice on Friday. Driving the No. 69 Motorsports in Action McLaren GT4 in the Grand Sport (GS) class, Lazare recorded the quick lap of the day, 2:17.304, in the afternoon practice after Fergus was third fastest in the morning.
Championship leaders Tyler McQuarrie and Jeff Westphal were second, with Westphal clocking a lap of 2:17.477 in the No. 39 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing Audi R8 in the second practice. Robin Liddell was third in GS and overall with a lap of 2:17.531 in the No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R that he shares with Frank DePew.
Fastest laps in the Touring Car (TCR) class were set in the morning practice, led by Todd Lamb in the No. 84 Atlanta Speedwerks Honda Civic TCR at 2:20.532.
Pilot Challenge has a final practice scheduled for 11:15 a.m. ET Saturday, ahead of TCR qualifying at 11:40 a.m. and GS qualifying at noon. The two-hour Road America 120 race streams live at 4:50 p.m. on IMSA.tv.
Antinucci Continues Running at Front in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Practice
Richy Antinucci’s fast lap from the morning practice held up as best of the day through two sessions in the Lamborghini Blancpan Super Trofeo North America series. Antinucci toured Road America in 2:05.850 in the No. 29 Change Racing, Lamborghini Charlotte to lead the Pro class and be fastest overall. Antinucci and Corey Lewis have won three of the first four races this season.
Cedric Sbirrazzuoli was second with a lap of 2:05.865 on the No. 27 Dream Racing Motorsport, Lamborghini Dallas. Jacob Eidson topped the Pro-Am class at 2:06.117 in the US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Vancouver.
Change Racing also paced the Amateur class, with McKay Snow taking the No. 63 Lamborghini Charlotte entry to a lap of 2:07.885. Ashton Harrison finished atop the LB Cup class at 2:09.661 in the No. 43 Prestige Performance/WTR, Lamborghini Paramus.
Lamborghini Super Trofeo conducts qualifying for its two weekend races with 15-minute sessions starting at 9 and 9:20 a.m. ET Saturday. The first race streams on IMSA.tv at 2:55 p.m. Saturday, with the second race streaming at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.