For two weeks, GTD qualifying has belonged to Jack Hawksworth and the #15 3GT Racing Lexus. With a time of 1:15.581, Hawksworth claimed the class pole for Sunday’s Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix with a record time.
“The car worked really well from the minute we rolled off of the truck,” Hawksworth said in a post-session press conference. “We knew coming in here this was going to be a golden opportunity to get a result.”
In a team that has been improving as the season goes on, a missed opportunity to podium at Watkins Glen has left the 3GT entries coming north of the border looking to match their qualifying pace. As far as Hawksworth is concerned, it is only the beginning in regards to what the team is capable of.
“We’ve had a year with the car now,” he said. “The team itself has become a lot more efficient; we understand the car a lot more.”
Hawksworth’s teammate, Dominik Baumann, rounded out a front row sweep for the team in P2. Baumann shares the car with Kyle Marcelli, a Canadian who will be proudly boasting the red and white flag before a hometown crowd this weekend.
The title battle between Meyer Shank Racing and Paul Miller Racing continues to play out in qualifying sessions, with the Acura of Alvaro Parente posting a P6 time three positions behind championship rival Madison Snow in P3.
Katherine Legge, also of the #86 Acura, sits only one point behind the #48 Lamborghini in the points standings.