Risi Scores First GTLM Pole in Three Years in Monterey

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Risi Competizione scored its first GT Le Mans class pole in more than three years, with Toni Vilander storming to the top qualifying position for Sunday’s America’s Tire 250 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The flying Finn reeled off a 1:21.914 to go quickest in the hard-fought 15-minute session, edging out the No. 66 Ford GT of Dirk Mueller by 0.242 seconds.

It marked the Houston-based team’s first class pole since Virginia International Raceway 2014.

Vilander will share driving duties with Giancarlo Fisichella in tomorrow’s final two-hour and 40-minute race of the season.

The pair of BMW Team RLL-entered BMW M6 GTLMs will line up third and fourth in class, with the No. 24 entry of John Edwards edging out teammate championship contender Alexander Sims.

Ryan Briscoe completed the top-five in class in the No. 67 Ford.

Madison Snow, meanwhile, claimed Lamborghini’s fourth consecutive class pole in GT Daytona.

Snow reeled off a 1:24.469 in the No. 48 Paul Miller Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3, edging out the No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Daniel Morad by 0.252 seconds.

It was Snow’s second class pole in the last four races and the team’s third of the season, after co-driver Bryan Seller’s top qualifying run at Long Beach.

The No. 73 Park Place Porsche of Patrick Lindsey will start third in class, ahead of Jens Klingmann in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3.

The America’s Tire 250 gets underway Sunday at 2:05 p.m. PDT with live coverage on FS1.

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