Foley Quickest as Pilot Challenge Returns to Action at Sebring

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge cars officially returned to the track Thursday after more than a five-month hiatus, with a pair of practice sessions ahead of tomorrow’s Advent Health 120 at Sebring International Raceway.

The No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 of Robby Foley was quickest, thanks to 2:11.179 lap time set in the early evening session.

Foley, who will be splitting his time between three Turner BMWs this weekend, including both of the team’s GS class entries, was 0.009 seconds faster than the No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Indy Dontje.

Defending series champion Tyler McQuarrie was third quickest in the No. 39 CarBahn Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT4 and fourth overall on the day.

Robin Liddell led the way in the first 60-minute session earlier this afternoon, with the Scot’s 2:11.498 in the No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R good enough for to slot third in the combined times.

The No. 35 Riley Motorsports Mercedes of Daytona winner Dylan Murry completed the top-five in the opening day of action.

Two red flags halted track activity in the second session, first for the No. 60 KohR Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Kyle Marcelli, which came to a halt on track in Turn 7.

The No. 3 MIA McLaren 570S GT4 of Corey Lewis, which also stopped on track, resulted in the session ending a few minutes early.

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Norman, BHA Lead Way in TCR

Bryan Herta Autosport is off to a fast start in TCR, with Ryan Norman leading a 1-2-3 sweep for BHA-prepared Hyundai Veloster N TCRs.

Norman’s 2:14.763 lap time in the No. 33 entry he shares with Gabby Chaves came in the second session.

It was 0.758 seconds quicker than Mason Filippi in the No. 21 Hyundai, with Mark Wilkins completing the top-three in class, both in the second session and on the day.

Four Hyundais finished in the top-five on Thursday, with the debuting No. 29 entry of Spencer Brockman fifth, behind the No. 32 FASTMD Racing with Speed Syndicate Audi RS 3 LMS TCR of Mikey Taylor in fourth.

Qualifying is on tap for Friday at 10:25 a.m. ET, with the two-hour race taking the green flag at 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold and IMSA Radio.

RESULTS: Practice 1
RESULTS: Practice 2

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