Liefooghe Quickest in Opening Daytona Practice

Stephen Cameron Racing’s Gregory Liefooghe topped the timesheets for first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice at Daytona International Speedway.

Liefooghe steered the No. 19 Ford Mustang GT4 to a best lap of 1:52.663 to lead the opening 60-minute session ahead of Friday’s BMW M Endurance Challenge at Daytona.

He sat 0.305 seconds clear of Robin Liddell’s No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 Evo, with Mustang Challenge standout Robert Noaker third for McCumbee McAleer Racing ahead of his full season Pilot Challenge debut.

Morgan Burkhard, who was quickest across three days of testing at Daytona last weekend, slotted into fourth at the wheel of the No. 2 CSM Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, with Billy Johnson completing the overall top five for KohR Motorsports.

Matheus Leist was sixth in the No. 7 VPX Porsche, ahead of Cameron Shields in the No. 37 CarBahn with Peregrine Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO.

Trenton Estep picked up eighth at the wheel of the No. 36 Thunder Bunny BMW, with the No. 23 Koch-Copeland Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 and No. 46 Team TGM Mustang round out the overall top ten.

In the TCR class, CUPRA teams topped the class with a 1-2 fronted by Victor Gonzalez Racing driver Franco Girolami.

Girolami set a best lap of 1:57.650 aboard the No. 99 CUPRA Leon VZ TCR, with Raphael Reis second for Stallion Motorsports with Gou.

Harry Gottsacker was the quickest Bryan Herta Autosport driver in third at the wheel of the No. 18 Hyundai Elantra N TCR, followed by Tim Lewis in the No. 5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Honda Civic FL5 TCR.

The session was stopped by a red flag once, which came when Madeline Stewart stopped the No. 2 CSM Porsche at Turn 1-2 with 18 minutes to go.

Second practice for Michelin Pilot Challenge runners is scheduled for Thursday at 8:45 a.m ET.

RESULTS: Practice 1