Telitz Gives Smooge Racing Pole For Race 2 In Watkins Glen
The #18 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Eric Filgueiras and Stevan McAleer will start on pole for Race 1 in Pirelli GT4 America at Watkins Glen International. But their streak of consecutive pole positions came to an end, as Aaron Telitz won the pole for Race 2 aboard the #69 Smooge Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 which he shares with Todd Coleman.
In the first stage of qualifying, it was Filgueiras who had the duty of qualifying the Silver Cup championship-leading #18 RS1 Porsche. He got the pole with a fastest lap time of 1’55.339. Canadian Gavin Sanders was second-quickest aboard the #34 Conquest Racing/JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4, the team that ended RS1’s streak of consecutive victories to open the season.
Behind an all-Silver front row, is an all Pro-Am second row; Tom Capizzi was third-quickest aboard the #52 Auto Technic Racing BMW M4 GT4, followed by Ross Chouest in the #50 Chouest Povoledo Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 in fourth.
Kevin Conway was fifth-quickest in the #68 Smooge Racing GR Supra, the former NASCAR driver edging out the second-generation video game heir Gray Newell in the #24 Heart of Racing Vantage GT4.
Am Cup pole in Race 1 went to the #36 BimmerWorld M4 GT4, with Charlie Postins qualifying seventh overall, followed by the #124 ARG/Rotek Racing Ford Mustang GT4 of Edgar Lau, the #53 AutoTechnic M4 GT4 of Rob Walker, and the #8 Flying Lizard Motorsports Vantage GT4 of Elias Sabo. The #7 NOLASPORT Cayman RS of Sam Owen was third-quickest in Am Cup, and 13th overall.
The script completely flipped for Race 2 qualifying as McAleer couldn’t get above a 1’55.309, which puts him sixth on the grid tomorrow. He was still the fastest Silver Cup driver in this segment of qualifying, but it was not where he expected to be in the 34 car field.
In his place, it’s the former Indy Lights prospect turned IMSA GTD standout Telitz who starred during the second session, putting in a 1’54.882 to give the second-year Smooge Racing team their first overall pole position – and the first overall pole in GT4 America for the Toyota GR Supra GT4!
John Capestro-Dubets was second-quickest in the #52 Auto Technic M4 GT4, followed by Andy Lee in the #8 Flying Lizard Vantage GT4, Kenton Koch in the #15 BSport Racing Vantage GT4, and ex-Ford GT factory driver Billy Johnson Jnr in the #124 ARG/Rotek Racing Mustang, all starting ahead of McAleer.
Jason Hart (#47 NOLASPORT Cayman RS), John Geesbreght (#68 Smooge Racing GR Supra), and Aaron Povoledo (#50 Chouest Povoledo Vantage) qualified seventh through ninth.
The Am Cup pole for Race 2 was won by the ageless Terry Borcheller aboard the #20 Carrus Callas Raceteam GR Supra, in tenth overall. Jaden Lander qualified 13th overall in the #72 KRUGSPEED GR Supra (with Anthony Geraci), and James Clay was 16th in the #36 BimmerWorld M4 GT4.
GT4 America Race 1 from Watkins Glen starts at 4:05 PM local time.
Images © Regis Lefebure, Brian Cleary / SRO Motorsports Group America
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