De Angelis Tops Both Practice Sessions at VIR

Championship leader Roman De Angelis went quickest in both of Friday’s practice sessions for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama at Virginia International Raceway.

The 18-year-old, who currently leads the standings in both GT3 Cup Challenge USA and GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, posted a best lap time of 1:47.527 in Practice 1.

He was unable to go any better in the afternoon session, but still managed to top the timesheets with a 1:48.862 in his Kelly-Moss Road and Race car.

Maxwell Root and Fred Poordad put their Wright Motorsports cars second and third in the day’s combined standings, with Root only 0.047 seconds off De Angelis’ best time.

“We’re just trying to fight off the heat, I guess, right now,” he said. “It’s been a pretty good day. We always knew the Wright [Motorsports] cars were quick here.

“I think over the past three or four years, they’ve had cars that were on pole or really quick here. We saw it today with Max [Root] this morning, but hopefully we can keep it together tomorrow.”

Poordad also had the fastest lap in the Platinum Masters class for drivers 45 years of age and over at 1:49.142, while Rob Ferriol – who also is competing in this weekend’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race – led the way in the Gold Cup class for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars built between 2014 and 2016.

Qualifying will take place at 8 a.m. EDT on Saturday, followed by Race 1 at 11:20 a.m.

RESULTS: Practice 1
RESULTS: Practice 2