Filipe Albuquerque commanded his way to the overall pole position in the #10 Acura ARX-06 for the IMSA WeatherTech ‘Sportscar Weekend’ at Road America.
As the 2024 season edges closer to its conclusion with just two races to go for the GTP and LMP2 prototype categories, qualifying took place with anticipation.
The historic Road America was opened almost 70 years ago and has been hailed as a temple of speed in the USA, which made for an exciting challenge for the drivers in the two sessions.
Since last year’s running, the circuit has been significantly repaved which has enhanced grip levels with qualifying in warm and dry conditions.
After an accident in FP2, the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 RLL was not able to participate in the GTP session, leaving the remaining nine machines to fight for the outright pole.
Dane Cameron (#7 Porsche Penske 963) had an off-track excursion in the middle of the carousel corner, before he rejoined the circuit on the grass on the exit.
Meanwhile Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti and Acura found and commanded their qualifying pace in 1-2 formation.
Specifically, #10 driver Filipe Albuquerque set the benchmark and improved throughout the closing stages of the session.
A display of quickness by the Acura ARX-06 package did not nullify a great fight behind as the two Cadillac V-Series.Rs appeared to the next-best performing manufacturer, before Gianmaria Bruni eventually split the two Cadillacs.
Albuquerque set the fastest lap time of 1:48.601 to command his way to pole position in the #10 Acura, followed by Jordan Taylor in the #40 at just 0.262 seconds away (1:48.863).
Third place was secured by Renger van der Zande’s #01 Chip Ganassi Cadillac after he put down a 1:48.920, ahead of Gianmaria Bruni’s #5 Proton Competition Porsche in fourth (1:49.392), followed by Pipo Derani’s #31 Wehlen Cadillac (1:49.408).
In the LMP2 category, it was the usual job of the FIA Bronze-graded drivers to fight for class-pole position across 12 entries, with all but the Sean Creech Motorsport – who field the #33 Ligier JS P217 – running the favoured Oreca 07 package.
After also suffering a significant crash in FP2, the #2 United Autosports USA Oreca 07 team carried out an impressive repair-job as the driver involved, Ben Keating, nevertheless asserted strong pace during the session.
Tonis Kasemets in the #33 Ligier was also showcasing promising pace at the heart of the 12-car LMP2 field.
PJ Hyett kept himself ahead of Keating’s Oreca to claim his fourth consecutive pole position in the #99 AO Racing ‘Spike the Dragon’ Oreca 07 with a 1:53.738 lap time.
Keating took second after he set a quickest time of 1:54.110, followed by the sibling United Autosports USA Oreca, the #2, in third with Dan Goldburg’s 1:54.129 positioning himself narrowly behind on pace.
Fourth position was taken by Nick Boulle’s #52 Inter Europol by PR1 Mathiasen Oreca from a 1:54.303, followed by Luis Perez Companc’s #88 Richard Mille AF Corse Oreca in fifth place and his 1:54.317 lap time.
See here for the full classification of qualifying for the 2024 IMSA Sportscar Weekend.
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