McAleer Leads Opening VIR Practice

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Stevan McAleer was quickest in the opening IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge practice session for Saturday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway.

The RS1 driver, who along with Trent Hindman are seeking their third consecutive GS class win, reeled off a best lap of 1:52.334 in the 60-minute session aboard his No. 28 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to edge out the No. 19 Van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 of Scott Andrews by 0.464 seconds.

Robin Liddell was third quickest in the No. 71 Rebel Rock Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 EVO, followed by Gregory Liefooghe in the No. 43 Stephen Cameron Racing Ford Mustang GT4 and Michai Stephens’ No. 34 JMF Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4, which completed the top-five.

The TCR class, meanwhile, was led by the No. 5 KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR of Tim Lewis Jr.

The session featured a single red flag, for the No. 69 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4 of Michael de Quesada, who went off in Turn 6.

The second and final Pilot Challenge practice gets underway at 3:50 p.m. EDT.

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