- Sargent, GMG Racing Fastest in Pro-Am and Overall
- Auberlen, ST Racing Sets the Standard in Pro Class
- Unofficial Results
The temperatures were gradually rising and the on track action began to heat up as the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS grid took over Sebring International Raceway for the 60 minute opening practice session.
The fastest time in Practice 1 was claimed by Pro-Am competitor Tom Sargent in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R, with Bill Auberlen in hot pursuit in the No. 28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3, setting the quickest lap time in the Pro Class and the second-fastest lap overall.
Pro Class
Bill Auberlen went quickest on board the No. 28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3, with a time of 2:00.300 moving him up to the top spot on the timesheets in the Pro Class, and was the second-fastest time overall in Practice 1.
Spencer Pumpelly also joined the conversation with 20 minutes remaining in the session. He was on board the new No. 85 RS1 Porsche 992 GT3 R, setting a time of 2:00.347, which brought him just 0.047 seconds away from the best time in class. Pumpelly is partnered with Trent Hindman as the duo make their debut in this year’s championship.
Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer also followed closely behind in the No. 120 Wright Motorsports Porsche 992 GT3 R, with their best time consisting of a lap time of 2:00.413, demonstrating the competitiveness of the grid as the margins remained minimal across the board. Luca Mars and Zach Veach were next in the No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 EVO22.
Pro-Am Class
It was Tom Sargent in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 992 GT3 R who led the way in the Pro-Am Class, with a flying lap time of 2:00.127, which he set on his very first lap of the session, earning him the fastest time in class and overall.
Justin Rothberg and Robby Foley went second-quickest in the No. 29 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 with a time of 2:00.450, establishing themselves with the fifth-fastest time overall in the session. Additionally, they were only 0.323 seconds behind the top time set by Sargent, with all lap times remaining remarkably close.
George Kurtz and Colin Braun were also competitive in the No. 04 Crowdstrike by Riley Mercedes-AMG GT3, setting the third-fastest time in the Pro-Am Class. The Top 5 in class was further completed by Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen in the No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3, and Scott Smithson and Bryan Sellers getting off to a strong start in their all-new No. 08 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R as the pairing completed their first official practice session as a part of the Team Chevy program.
Let’s Get Racing
The Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS field will return to the track for Practice 2 on Friday, May 3rd at 3:15 PM EST.
If you can’t make it to Sebring, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free livestreams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTSebring.