McDonald Paces Opening Road America Practice

Photo: Fabian Lagunas/SRO

Blake McDonald led the way in opening practice for GT America powered by AWS at Road America.

McDonald, in the No. 11 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, reeled off a chart-topping 2:06.118 lap time to outpace the competition by more than a half-second.

The No. 56 SKI Autosports Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II of Memo Gidley was second quickest, 0.631 seconds behind, and effectively the quickest car that will contest the pair of 40-minute races, as McDonald typically uses the GT America sessions as practice for his GT World Challenge America powered by AWS effort in the same car.

Ross Chouest was third in his Corvette, despite serving a drive-through penalty in the session for multiple track limits.

Jason Bell and SRO3 class points leader Justin Rothberg completed the top-five for Racers Edge Motorsports and Turner Motorsport, respectively.

The No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Kyle Washington did not part in the session.

CRP Racing’s Jason Daskalos was quickest of the drivers in the 30-minute Paid Bronze Test, which ran immediately prior to the opening GT America session.

Several cars, including the No. 91 Regulator Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo and No. 07 Skip Barber Racing BMW M4 GT4 EVO, will receive a stop-and-hold plus five-minute penalty during their next sessions after taking two virtual checkered flags.

Practice 2 is on tap for Friday at 9:10 a.m. CST.

RESULTS: Practice 1

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