Trinkler Narrowly Edges Out TCR Car for Lime Rock Pole

Photo: Jake Galstad/IMSA

Owen Trinkler has claimed his third IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge pole of the season, in a hard-fought qualifying session for the sixth round of the season at Lime Rock Park.

Trinkler took his No. 46 Team TGM Mercedes-AMG GT4 to a best lap of 53.963 seconds in the GS qualifying session, edging out the TCR pole-sitting Hyundai Veloster N TCR by just 0.071 seconds.

The No. 39 Carbahn Motorsports Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Tyler McQuarrie was third quickest overall but will line up alongside Trinkler on the front row, as TCR cars, which were mixed with GS cars in qualifying, will be moved to the rear of the GS class field for Saturday morning’s start.

Andrew Davis, subbing for Rebel Rock Racing team owner Frank DePew, qualified third in GS, ahead of the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 of Bill Auberlen in fourth.

Jesse Lazare made it five different GT4 manufacturers in the top-five in his No. 69 Motorsport In Action McLaren 570S GT4.

The No. 33 Winward Racing/HTP Motorsport Mercedes, meanwhile, has been withdrawn following Russell Ward’s crash in second practice.

Ward was due to share driving duties with Indy Dontje, in what has marked the car’s third DNS in the last six races due to accidents.

Lewis Takes BHA Hyundai to TCR Pole

Michael Lewis scored his second TCR class pole in the last three races in a flying lap for the No. 98 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai.

Lewis’ 54.034 lap time was good enough for second quickest overall, in a field that includes 20 GT4-spec cars.

His time nearly four-tenths ahead of the second-placed-in-class KMW Motorsports with TMR Engineering Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR of Alex Papadopulos, with Bryan Henderson third in the No. 84 Atlanta Speedworks Honda Civic Type-R TCR in third.

Class championship leader Shelby Blackstock will start fourth in the No. 37 LA Racing World Honda.

The Lime Rock Park 120 gets underway Saturday at 11:10 a.m. EDT with live coverage on IMSA.tv 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