The biggest sports car race weekend of the year revved into high gear as the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix got underway.
The American Le Mans Series held three separate test sessions while the other popular series’ running, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, Pro Mazda Championship and the SCCA Playboy MX-5 Cup held their first practices and qualifying sessions of the action packed weekend.
The Level 5 Motorsports duo of Scott Tucker and Mike Conway set the pace in the ALMS test session with a fast lap time of 1:10.656 in their HPD ARX-03b LMP2. The top finishing Canadian in the series was Kyle Marcelli (pictured) of Barrie in the #8 BAR1 Motorsports LMPC with a fast lap of 1:12.176.
In qualifying action, Christian Szymczak of California won the pole in SCCA Pro Racing Playboy MX-5 Cup, setting the tone for Saturday and Sunday’s races.
Saturday's action begins at 8:00 am with practice and qualifying sessions in the morning. The Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, Pro Mazda Championship and MX-5 Cup will run the first leg of their doubleheaders Saturday afternoon. The weekend headliner, The American Le Mans Series will hold their qualifying session in four groups beginning at 3:30 pm.
The Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix is the fifth race of the season for the American Le Mans Series and will run on Sunday, July 21 at 12:00 pm.
Photo by John Walker
