Estep Tops Opening Laguna Practice

Photo: Brandon Badraoui/IMSA

Trenton Estep led an Aston Martin 1-2 in the first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice for Saturday’s WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120.

The Van der Steur Racing driver reeled off a 1:28.992 in his No. 66 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo to edge out Thomas Merrill in the No. 14 Circle H Racing entry by 0.143 seconds.

Jaxon Bell was third in the Koch-Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

In TCR, the No. 93 MMG Honda Civic Type R TCR of LP Montour that was quickest, thanks to a 1:30.151 lap time that put the Canadian squad an impressive 12th overall.

The 60-minute session had one red flag for an incident involving the No. 30 LAP Motorsports Ford Mustang GT4 and the Circle H Aston Martin in Turn 11.

It led to debris from the Aston on track, which ultimately brought out the brief stoppage.

As a result, the Merrill and David Hampton-driven Aston will lose its quickest time in qualifying due to being deemed for bringing out a red.

Practice 2 is scheduled for 1 p.m. PST, ahead of qualifying this evening at 5:40 p.m. PST

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