Points-Leading Audi Scores First Pole of Season

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge points co-leader Tyler McQuarrie scored his team’s first pole of the season for Saturday afternoon’s Road America 120.

Despite not going quickest in any of the three sectors, McQuarrie managed to produce a time of 2:16.512 to deny Owen Trinkler of a third consecutive pole.

Trinkler posted an early provisional pole time of 2:16.670 in the No. 46 Team TGM Mercedes-AMG GT4 but was bumped off the primary grid spot by McQuarrie’s response in the No. 39 CarBahn by Peregrine Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4.

Akhil Rabindra put the Automatic Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 on the second row of the grid with his 2:16.836 effort, while Jade Buford lapped fourth-quickest in the best of the PF Racing Ford Mustang GT4s.

Buford’s number was just under half a second off the pace set by McQuarrie, who is sharing the CarBahn Audi with Jeff Westphal in the two-hour race.

McQuarrie and Westphal’s main championship contenders, James Clay and Devin Jones, will start from 17th on the grid with their BMW M4 GT4.

Blackstock Claims TCR Pole

TCR pole position went to Shelby Blackstock, who was the only driver to dip under the 2m 20s barrier in the quickfire qualifying session.

Blackstock steered the No. 37 LA Honda World Racing Honda Civic TCR to a 2:19.712 which established a gap of 0.309 seconds to the second-placed Hyundai Veloster TCR of Mark Wilkins.

Audi RS 3 LMS TCR machinery locked out the second row of the grid, with Nick Galante out-qualifying Chris Miller, while Colin Mullan’s Honda rounded out the top-five.

The Road America 120 gets underway at 4:05 p.m. CT, with live coverage on IMSA.tv.

RESULTS: Qualifying