Koch Scores Second Consecutive Pole; Monteiro on Top in TCR

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Kenton Koch has come out on top in an ultra-close qualifying session for Saturday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge round at Mid-Ohio.

The Murillo Racing driver took the No. 56 Mercedes-AMG GT4 to a fast lap of 1:27.126 to score his second consecutive pole. 

Koch, who laid down the pole-winning time on his final flying lap, is again subbing for the injured Jeff Mosing and will share driving duties with Eric Foss in the race.

The No. 28 RS1 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport of Alexandre Premat will start second, followed by the No. 72 Murillo entry of Kenny Murillo in third.

Luca Mars and Alan Brynjolfsson completed the top-five overall and in GS for KohR Motorsports and VOLT Racing, respectively.

The top four were separated by just 0.063 seconds.

Tiago Monteiro, meanwhile, scored top qualifying honors in TCR, in the WTCR veteran’s IMSA debut.

The ex open-wheel ace reeled off a best lap of 1:28.829 in the No. 37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic Type-R TCR to edge out the No. 33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR of Gabby Chaves by 0.342 seconds.

Monteiro’s TCR car is being run this weekend by a combination of personnel from JAS Motorsport and Honda, in a special one-off effort.

Chaves, meanwhile, is subbing for Mark Wilkins and will team with Robert Wickens in tomorrow’s two-hour contest.

The Mid-Ohio 120 takes the green flag Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET with live coverage on Peacock and IMSA Radio.

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