WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Loris Spinelli turned intermittent conditions into his first pole position and a track record.
Spinelli maneuvered through the tricks of a Watkins Glen International circuit that was both wet and dry Saturday to win the Motul Pole Award in the GT Daytona (GTD) class for Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
His last-minute lap of 1 minute, 44.430 seconds (117.207 mph) around the 11-turn, 3.4-mile circuit put the No. 78 Forte Racing Powered by US RaceTronics Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 on the pole for both GT classes (GTD and GTD PRO).
It was Spinelli’s first pole in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition and bettered by 0.069 seconds the previous class lap record set by Jack Hawksworth in 2018.
Getting through a wet section of the track’s Bus Stop chicane was key to winning the pole.
“I felt really good with the car,” Spinelli said. “At the beginning, the Bus Stop was wet. We improved in the last minutes, and I pushed really hard to put that lap together.”
Spinelli, who co-drives the Forte Lamborghini with Misha Goikhberg and Patrick Liddy, said he pressed team leaders to let him qualify the car.
“I’m really happy,” Spinelli said. “Thanks to the team for all their hard work. They deserve this position. It’s a good way to start the race.
Aaron Telitz was second fastest in the GTD class and fourth best overall among GT competitors with the 1:45.203 lap (116.346 mph) he recorded in the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 he co-drives with Frankie Montecalvo and Parker Thompson.
Doriane Pin was third best in class with a lap of 1:45.325 (116.211 mph) in the No. 83 Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 she shares with Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting.
Serra Collects Sixth Career IMSA Pole
If one thing was learned from the GTD PRO class, it was this: Daniel Serra is pretty darn good at qualifying.
Serra turned a lap of 1:44.829 (116.761 mph) in the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 GT3, good for the top starting spot in class and second overall among GT cars. It was his sixth pole position in 25 WeatherTech Championship events.
“It’s important to start in the front,” Serra said. “It’s so difficult to overtake here. Track position is very important. I’m happy with the car and happy with the team. Let’s race tomorrow.”
Serra, who co-drives the No. 62 Risi Ferrari with Davide Rigon, narrowly beat Jordan Pepper, who was clocked at 1:45.139 in the No. 63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 he co-drives with Andrea Caldarelli.
Hawksworth, the GTD PRO points leader with teammate Ben Barnicoat, had the third-fastest lap in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.