McAleer Snatches VIR Pole

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Stevan McAleer will start this afternoon’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix from the pole after taking top qualifying honors Saturday morning at Virginia International Raceway.

The RS1 driver stormed to a best lap of 1:52.668 in his No. 28 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport to edge out a late improvement by Jesse Lazare in the No. 69 Motorsports In Action McLaren Artura GT4 by 0.413 seconds.

Michael McCarthy in the No. 91 Kellymoss by Riley qualified third, ahead of Paul Holton’s No. 46 Team TGM Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and the No. 34 JMF Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT4 of Michai Stephens, who completed the top-five.

TCR saw a lockout of the top three positions by Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR machinery, led by the No. 77 car of Bryson Morris.

Morris, fresh off class victory in last weekend’s Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS round at Road America, reeled off a best lap of 1:55.230 to score pole.

His time was 0.511 seconds quicker than the No. 33 Hyundai of Robert Wickens, with Mark Wilkins qualifying third in the No. 98 entry.

Wickens’ car, however, came to a halt on track in Turn 12 following the checkered flag.

The Virginia is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix takes the green flag at 2:15 p.m. EDT 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