Koch Claims GS Pole; Gilsinger Quickest Overall in Qualifying

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Kenton Koch will lead the field to the green in this afternoon’s Mid-Ohio 120, although it was the Honda Civic Type-R TCR car of Chad Gilsinger that was quickest overall in a mixed-condition qualifying for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge round.

Koch reeled off a best lap of 1:44.181 in the No. 2 eEuroparts Audi R8 LMS GT4 on wet-weather Michelin tires, which was more than 2 seconds slower than Gilsinger’s No. 89 HART Honda TCR entry, who set a 1:41.986 lap.

It came after deteriorating conditions around the 2.258-mile circuit that impacted the GS class entries, which qualified after the TCR class that remained mostly on slicks.

Per IMSA rules, GS cars will be grouped at the front of the grid, regardless of the results in qualifying.

TCR cars set the two quickest times overall, with the No. 3 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR of Mark Kvamme second, ahead of Brian Henderson’s Speedwerks Honda Civic TCR, who will roll off from third on the grid in class.

The No. 69 Motorsport In Action McLaren 570S GT4 of Jesse Lazare will start alongside Koch on the front row, despite setting the 8th quickest time overall.

A handful of GS teams, including defending champions Team TGM, opted for Michelin slicks during qualifying, which didn’t pay off in the challenging conditions.

Owen Trinkler only managed to set the 35th quickest time overall, 21st in GS.

The Mid-Ohio 120 gets underway at 1:45 p.m. EDT with live coverage on IMSA.tv.

RESULTS: Qualifying

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