Canada’s Biggest Sports Car Race Weekend Is Underway
The biggest sports car race weekend of the year revved into high gear as the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport got underway.
All of the series' running this weekend held practice and qualifying sessions on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park’s famed road course. The American Le Mans Series held three separate test sessions while the other popular series’ running, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites, Canadian Touring Car Championship and the Playboy MX-5 Cup held their first practices of the action packed weekend.
The Conquest Racing duo of Martin Plowman and David Heinemeier Hansson set the pace in the ALMS test session with a fast lap time of 1:09.927 in their Morgan LMP2. The top finishing Canadian in the series was Tony Burgess of Toronto in the #20 Dyson Racing LMP1 with a fast lap of 1:10.695. Barrie native Kyle Marcelli ran a fast lap of 1:11.371, which was the best in the LMPC class.
Sean Johnston set a new track record in IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge during Friday’s qualifying session. His best lap was 1:22.319.
Marcelli also finished with the fastest times in the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin practice sessions in his Pfaff Motorsports machine 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, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin and the Canadian Touring cars 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 3:20 pm.
The Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport is the fifth race of the season for the American Le Mans Series and will run on Sunday, July 22 at 12:00 pm.
(Note to Editors: Agate will be filed for races Saturday and Sunday)
Ryan Chalmers, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
ryan@ctmpark.com 1-800-866-1072 (office) 905-260-1711 (cell)
Photo Credit – John Walker
Cutline – Dyson Racing #20 LMP1 driven by Toronto native Tony Burgess was the fastest Canadian during American Le Mans testing.
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=15870.msg103390#msg103390
