Telitz Leads Aston Martin 1-2 to Set Roar Pace

Archangel Motorsports driver Aaron Telitz set the fastest time across three days of running for IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at the Roar Before the Rolex 24.

Telitz steered the No. 88 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 to a best lap of 1:53.304 during the third of five practice sessions, which took place on Saturday morning.

Pilot Challenge teams had a total of six and a half hours of track time available to them at the Roar, with five sessions spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

However, most of the quick times (including the top seven fastest laps in GS) came during session three, aided by cold temperatures on Saturday morning.

Team TGM’s Matt Plumb ensured Aston Martin secured a practice 1-2 by picking up second place aboard the No. 46 machine, 0.026 seconds down on Telitz.

Jack Hawksworth rounded out the top three behind the wheel of the No. 50 Hattori Motorsports Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo, a tenth and a half clear of Riley Dickinson’s No. 91 Kellymoss with Riley Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

Michael Cooper completed the top five at the wheel of the No. 44 Baby Bull Racing Porsche, leading Automatic Racing’s Brandon Kidd and a pair of BGB Motorsports entries driven by Spencer Pumpelly and Thomas Collingwood.

Hyundai beat Honda to lead the TCR ranks, with Julian Santero setting the pace aboard the No. 80 Victor Gonzalez Racing Team Hyundai Elantra N TCR.

Santero’s benchmark time of 1:56.831, also set during the third session, was 0.961 seconds faster than the No. 6 Montreal Motorsport Group Honda Civic FL5 TCR driven by Bryan Ortiz.

Denis Dupont, new to the Bryan Herta Autosport stable, slotted into third at the wheel of the No. 76 Hyundai ahead of the second MMG Honda in the hands of LP Montour.

BHA entries filled positions five, six and seven with Mark Wilkins, Harry Gottsacker and Mason Filippi, ahead of the No. 99 Honda of Victor Gonzalez.

Official practice for Pilot Challenge gets underway Wednesday.

RESULTS: Practice (Combined)