Pipo Derani has topped opening practice for the Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca by over half a second.
Derani, who lost victory at Motul Petit Le Mans in the closing stages last time out, topped the timesheets in the #31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-VR with a 01:15:851. That time was 0.519s quicker than the second-best effort from Renger van der Zande in the #10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-VR.
The two Team Penske Acuras were third and fourth, with the #6 Acura ARX-05 of Juan Pablo Montoya edging the #7 Acura of Helio Castroneves by two-hundredths of a second. Oliver Jarvis completed the top five in the #77 Mazda RT24-P.
Garcia quickest for Corvette
Antonio Garcia led the way for Corvette Racing in the incident-free opening session in California. The Spaniard set a 01:21:898 in the #3 Corvette C8.R, which was enough to beat the two Porsches to the top of the sheets.
Nick Tandy was second quickest in the #911 Porsche 911 RSR-19, 0.132s behind Garcia but just over a tenth quicker than Earl Bamber. Bamber is back in the #912 Porsche 911 RSR-19 for the first time since winning the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps alongside Tandy and team-mate Laurens Vanthoor.
Tommy Milner was fourth quickest in the #4 Corvette C8.R ahead of the two BMWs of John Edwards and Connor de Phillippi.
Auberlen paces GT Daytona
Veteran Bill Auberlen set the quickest lap time in GT Daytona behind the wheel of the #96 Turner Motorsports BMW M6 GT3. The all-time IMSA win record holder posted a 01:24:754 to go up top.
Andy Lally put the #44 GRT Magnus Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo second in class, with Mario Farnbacher third in the #86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo.
The top six in class was made up of six different manufacturers. Paul Holton was fourth in the #76 Compass Racing McLaren 720S GT3, ahead of the #63 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo of Alessandro Balzan and Patrick Long’s #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.
