Nick Tandy claimed pole position for the #6 Porsche Penske 963 following a gripping qualifying session for the IMSA Detroit Sports Car Classic.
Porsche Penske and Corvette were the stars in qualifying ahead of the third sprint race of the year as both locked out the front rows across the two categories.
During free practice running, efforts commenced to prepare for the challenging 1-hour and 40-minute race which marks the fifth round of 2024.
The concrete walls marked indisputable track limits around the nine-turn street circuit, yet also put drivers to the test with little room to make mistakes on their qualifying attempts, as limited run-off areas kept them out of harm’s way.
Proceedings began with the 11-car GTD Pro field as they fought for their crucial starting position during the 15-minute session.
The opening phase saw Ferrari works driver Daniel Serra took on qualifying duties in the #35 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 which is entering their first GTD Pro race, with the entrant a regular in the GTD class.
As drivers warmed up their cars, and themselves, times began to quicken up with the likes of both Corvettes, the #14 Vasser Sullivan (Lexus) and the #77 AO Racing (Porsche) demonstrating themselves as pole-sitting contenders.
Margins were exceptionally tight, highlighted by the immediate 0.5 second threshold separating the top-five.
Madison Snow for the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 struggled to stand out in the field of experienced factory drivers, with the American driver at 0.783 seconds behind Frankie Montecalvo in the 10th-placed #15 Vasser Sullivan Lexus.
By the end, Corvette mastered qualifying having secured the front row in GTD Pro.
Antonio Garcia claimed his 10th IMSA pole position with a lap time of 1:09.092 in the #3 Z06 GT3.R, situated 0.336 ahead of teammate Tommy Milner in the #4 Corvette.
Jack Hawksworth ended up third in the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus after setting a 1:09.626, as Seb Priaulx took fourth in the #77 AO Racing ‘Rexy’ Porsche 911 GT3 R from a 1:09.705.
Serra rounded off the top-five with a valiant effort in the #35 Ferrari and a 1:09.799 lap time.
In GTP qualifying, it was #7 Porsche Penske 963 driver Dane Cameron who set the first lap time which was faster than any of free practice running thus far with a 1:06.024, before he entered the 1:05 threshold on his next lap.
The fight for pole was close and tense between the Porsche Penskes and the Cadillacs with remarkably close intervals between the cars.
Unfortunately with two minutes left, #31 Wehlen Cadillac Racing driver Pipo Derani went offline and tapped the wall which prompted him to enter the Turn 5 run-off area.
He subsequently caused a red flag which lost Derani his two fastest laps, thus he was sent down to last place in GTP despite running in contention for pole.
The session ended prematurely as Tandy took pole position for the #6 Porsche Penske 963 after setting a 1:05.390 lap time.
His teammate, Cameron, followed in second with his time of 1:05.514.
Third position was claimed by #01 Cadillac V-Series.R driver Sebastien Bourdais after he set a 1:05.762.
Filipe Albuquerque will start the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Acura ARX-06 in fourth position having put a fastest time of 1:05.767 as teammate Jordan Taylor set his #40 Acura in fifth with a 1:05.901.
See here for the provisional qualifying results ahead of the IMSA Detroit Sports Car Classic on 1 June.
