Heylen, BGB Porsche Tops Opening Day of Practice

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Jan Heylen led the way in the opening day of track action for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge competitors ahead of Sunday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix at VIR.

Heylen laid down a best lap of 1:53.751 in the No. 38 BGB Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

The time came in the second half of the 60-minute session, which started in damp conditions.

Bill Auberlen recorded a 1:53.764 in his No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 to go second in the session, with a late improvement by Indy Dontje putting the No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 third on the time sheets.

The No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R made it four different GT4 manufacturer in the top-four.

Dylan Murry completed the top-five in the No. 35 Riley Motorsports Mercedes GT4.

The No. 23 FASTMD by Speed Syndicate Audi RS 3 LMS TCR of James Vance was quickest of the TCR cars, meanwhile.

Vance’s 1:58.243 lap time came late in the session to edge out the No. 37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type-R TCR of Shelby Blackstock by 0.426 seconds.

Thirty-three cars set times in the session, with the No. 8 McCann Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4, which was originally on the entry list, a no-show for the weekend.

Friday saw only a single practice session for Pilot Challenge competitors, with Practice 2 on tap for tomorrow at 9:35 a.m. ET and qualifying scheduled for race day morning on Sunday.

RESULTS: Practice 1

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John