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Morespeed Audi GT4 Paces Laguna Seca Friday Practice

Moorespeed Audi R8 LMS GT4 paces Friday Michelin Pilot Challenge practice…

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Spencer Pumpelly led the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge field on Friday across two practice sessions for this weekend’s round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Pumpelly posted a time of 1:31.036 during the morning run, placing the No. 18 Moorespeed Audi R8 LMS GT4 that he shares with Rob Ferriol on top of the GS class table.

This remained the benchmark until the end of the day, with the best Practice 2 effort courtesy of Park Place Motorsports’ Trent Hindman almost half a second shy of the Audi driver’s pace.

Hindman’s afternoon session-leading time of 1:31.526 behind the wheel of the No. 7 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport wound up as the third-fastest lap of the day, behind the 1:31.423 set by Owen Trinkler in the No. 46 Team TGM Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Completing the top five were Kris Wilson in the No. 97 Automatic Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 and Kuno Wittmer in the No. 75 Compass Racing McLaren 570S GT4, whose times both came in Practice 1.

The GS championship-leading CarBahn Motorsports Audi of Jeff Westphal and Tyler McQuarrie finished the day seventh in the order, one place behind the Motorsports in Action McLaren of Jesse Lazare and Corey Fergus which is second in the points with two rounds remaining.

In the TCR class, the best time of the day was also set during the first session, with Stephen Simpson steering the No. 54 JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi RS3 LMS TCR to a 1:33.298.

Less than two-tenths back in second was Todd Lamb in the No. 84 Atlanta Speedwerks Honda Civic TCR, while Michael Lewis’ late effort near the end of Practice 2 set the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Veloster N TCR third in the day’s final standings.

A final practice is scheduled for 10:05 a.m. PDT followed immediately by qualifying. 

RESULTS: Practice 1
RESULTS: Practice 2

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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