Laurin Heinrich claimed pole position for ‘Rexy’ in the GTD Pro category for the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s 27th running of Petit Le Mans.
The final qualifying session of the year proved to be tense and exciting with perfect, dry conditions at Road Atlanta.
Whilst not the race yet, qualifying proved useful in terms of attaining points and attempting to start near rivals in the combined GT field.
The GTD Pro title fight is led by AO Racing’s Rexy #77 Porsche 911 GT3.R on Heart of Racing’s #23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
A combined 32-car GT3 grid of Pro and non-professional entries took to the 15-minute session, with the #023 and #13 electing not to participate.
This was to save their tyre allocation for the gruelling 11th and final IMSA race of 2024.
With nine minutes remaining, a brief red flag was called for bodywork in the middle of Turn 10.
Daniel Serra made contact to chip off the left-side of the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.
The #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3 driver and #12’s Parker Thompson lost their fastest two lap times as a penalty.
With the left-front bodywork gone on the #12, it was unlikely to set a fastest lap time in its GTD category.
Nevertheless, both drivers would have to set three flying laps so that they would have at least one valid time by the end of qualifying.
The session resumed with 6-minutes and 50-seconds remaining.
‘Rexy’ on GTD Pro pole after Indy denial
AO Racing finally claimed their first GTD Pro pole position after their post-qualifying Indianapolis disqualification.
Heinrich set a 1:17.881 lap time in the green-liveried #77 Porsche.
Tommy Milner’s #4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R was narrowly behind by 0.052 seconds after his 1:17.933 lap time.
The #23 Aston Martin took third in the hands of Ross Gunn.
Thusly, the #77 Porsche only needs to finish the race in the top-six to win the GTD Pro title.
Gunn’s lap time was a 1:18.041 ahead of Antonio Garcia in fifth place for the #3 Corvette (1:18.085).
Behind Garcia was the undisputed GTD class pole-sitter Scott Andrews, in the #80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG.
His fastest lap time was a 1:18.281, with the next GTD car four positions back.
Robby Foley took second in GTD for the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 after he set a 1:18.539.
Four places further back was the #57 Mercedes-AMG which completed a 1:18.751 by Phillip Ellis.
They will need to finish tomorrow’s race in 14th or higher to conclude their dominant title-winning GTD campaign.
Better yet still, Winward Racing have yet to win Petit Le Mans.
Behind Ellis was Mike Skeen’s #32 Team Korthoff/Preston Mercedes-AMG and his 1:18.897 lap time.
Danny Formal rounded out the top-five in the GTD category after his 1:19.063 in the #45 WTRAndretti Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.
The race will commence at 12.10pm local time or 5.10pm BST to crown the victors of GTD and GTD Pro at Road Atlanta.
SEE MORE: The provisional classification of results from qualifying ahead of the 27th Petit Le Mans
