BMW Team RLL set the pace in opening practice for the Motul 100% Synthetic Grand Prix at the Charlotte Roval, with Jesse Krohn outpacing team-mate Bruno Spengler.
Krohn set a best time of 01:15:482 behind the wheel of the #24 BMW M8 GTE in a session that took place under the lights and saw a brief rain spell.
The Finn was a mere 0.069s quicker than team-mate Spengler in the second BMW. Nick Tandy, back in the #911 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for the first time since Porsche sat out the Mid-Ohio round, was third fastest, 0.124s behind Krohn.
Tommy Milner was fourth fastest in the #4 Corvette C8.R, just 0.020s quicker than Antonio Garcia in the #3 Corvette. The #912 Porsche 911 RSR-19 brought up the rear in class in the hands of Earl Bamber.
Meyer Shank Racing meanwhile led the way in the 12-car GTD field. Mario Farnbacher, fresh off a podium finish in the Indianapolis 8 Hours, set the fastest time of the night in the #86 Acura NSX GT3 Evo. The German’s best effort of 01:17:682 was less than half a tenth quicker than the #14 AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 in the hands of Jack Hawksworth.
Alvaro Parente, in the #57 Meyer Shank Acura was third, ahead of Paul Holton in the #76 Compass Racing McLaren 720S GT3. Holton, who has a new team-mate in the form of Jeff Kingsley this weekend, posted a 01:18:430, which was fast enough to hold off Townsend Bell, who ended the session in fifth place.
Patrick Long took sixth in the #16 Wright Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R, ahead of Riley Motorsports’ #74 Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Bill Auberlen in the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3. The top ten was rounded out by Team Hardpoint’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo and the Gradient Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
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