‘Super Sub’ Root Takes Wright Porsche GT4 to Pole

Photo: Mike Levitt/IMSA

Max Root has scored pole for Friday’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at Sebring International Raceway, putting Wright Motorsports and Porsche on top.

Root, who is pulling double duty in also competing in the pair of Porsche Carrera Cup North America races, recorded a 2:11.322 lap time in the No. 16 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport.

It was nearly one-second faster than the Daytona-winning No. 13 AWA McLaren 570S GT4 of Orey Fidani, who was second quickest.

Root is subbing for Ryan Hardwick this week in the team’s Porsche, which is making its first start of the Pilot Challenge season. He will share the entry with Jan Heylen.

Alan Brynjolfsson, fresh off victory in last weekend’s IMSA Prototype Challenge race, qualified the No. 7 Volt Racing by Archangel Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in third followed by Russell Ward in the No. 4 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4.

Dillon Machavern made it five different GT4 manufacturers in the top-five in GS, in his No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4.

Henderson Claims TCR Pole

Brian Henderson gave Atlanta Speedwerks its second consecutive pole in TCR after a late-session improvement.

Henderson’s 2:14.806 in the No. 84 Honda Civic Type-R TCR was 0.146 quicker than Gonzalez’s best time in the No. 27 Copeland Motorsports Hyundai Veloster N TCR.

Mike LaMarra will line up third in class in the No. 73 LA Honda World Racing Honda TCR.

The Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 gets underway Friday at 2:35 p.m. ET with live coverage on Trackpass on NBC Sports Gold and on 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