Noaker Charges to Le Mans Invitational Pole for Race 1

Robert Noaker stormed to pole position for the first Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational race of the weekend at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

After leading both of the weekend’s practice sessions, the Rober Noaker Racing driver continued to pace the field with his 4:21.958 lap time, earning him the Race 1 pole position.

With just under 30 minutes remaining, Noaker “reported smoke” while on track, according to a message on timing and scoring, but appeared to continue on without issue.

Despite timing and scoring reporting Cameron McLeod as moving slowly on track early in the 45-minute practice session, the Ryan McLeod Racing Cars driver got within 1.222 seconds of Noaker’s time to secure a second-place starting position for Friday’s race.

Ford Performance Junior Drivers Sam Paley and Marco Signoretti, will roll off the grid from third and fourth, respectively, with Australia’s David Wall behind in fifth.

RNR’s Dan McKeever earned the Dark Horse Legends pole for Race 1 with his 4:25.964 lap, which saw him finish the session inside the overall top ten.

Tanner Foust, meanwhile, grabbed Race 1 pole position in the Dark Horse Stars class, comfortably ahead of his class competitors, with a 4:26.368 lap time.

Midway through the session, Foust spun and continued early in the lap aboard the No. 1 Spark Performance Dark Horse R before going on to set his benchmark lap.

An on-track incident between the No. 26 Paley Motorsport Mustang of Sam Paley and Alfonso Diaz’s TechSport Racing entry at Arnage was noted by race control, with no action taken by the end of Qualifying.

After Chip Van Vurst and Drew Neubauer spun separately and continued, a crash for Adam Balon out of the Porsche Curves with just over 16 minutes to go brought out the red flag and an eventual early end to the session. Balon climbed from the car under his own power, but lost his two fastest lap times for causing the stoppage.

Race 1 of the Mustang Challenge Le Mans Invitational weekend takes the green flag on Friday morning at 11 a.m. CEST (5 a.m. EST) ahead of Race 2 on Saturday. Live coverage will be available on Ford Performance’s YouTube channel, with commentary also available on Radio Le Mans.

RESULTS: Qualifying