De Angelis on Pole in Montreal

Roman De Angelis scored pole on Friday for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada and USA by Yokohama joint weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

This is the first of two weekends in 2019 that teams from both series will compete simultaneously, resulting in a stout field of nearly 40 drivers.

The Mark Motors Racing driver set the pace in the lone practice session of the day and scored pole for Saturday’s Race 1 with the fastest time in qualifying.

De Angelis is fighting for titles in both the GT3 Cup Challenge Canada with Mark Motors, but also in GT3 Cup Challenge USA with Kelly-Moss Road and Race.

It was also just last year at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve that the 18-year-old scored his first GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Platinum Class pole and victory.

On Friday, De Angelis bested his 2018 track record by 0.254 seconds with a lap of 1:37.708.

“We went quicker in qualifying than we did last year and I think we broke my record, so that obviously shows an improvement from how we were last year and how we are this year,” said De Angelis.

“That’s pretty important. But also, an awesome car once again by Mark Motors/Kelly Moss this weekend which is kind of cool. It’s a huge weekend for us, double points.

“The American and Canadian championships matter to us this weekend, so this is the best way to start it I think.”

Starting second will be another driver pulling double duty between the two championships this year, Parker Thompson in the No. 3 SCB Racing Porsche. Thompson competes with JDX Racing in the GT3 Cup Challenge USA.

His JDX teammate Sean McAlister – the 2019 IMSA Hurley Haywood GT3 Cup Scholarship recipient – will line up third on the grid alongside Canadian driver and Quebecker Patrick Dussault in fourth driving the No. 77 Lauzon Autosport Porsche.

In the Gold Class, Sebastian Carazo recorded the best lap time of 1:41.484 in the No. 27 NGT Motorsport Porsche.

He swapped the lead with Angel Benitez Jr. in the No. 91 for FMS Motorsport, who finished a mere 0.104 seconds behind Carazo to start second in class.

Race 1 for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama goes green on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.

RESULTS: Qualifying