Yardley Paces Thursday Practice; Points Leaders to Backup Car

Photo: Fred Hardy/SRO

Ryan Yardley led the way in Pirelli GT4 America practice ahead of this weekend’s pair of races at Road America, which saw drama for the Silver class points leader in the first session.

The Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver reeled off a chart-topping 2:16.205 lap in his Pro-Am class No. 25 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport late in Thursday afternoon’s second session.

It was 0.326 seconds quicker than Practice 1 pace-setter Austin Jurs in the No. 131 Advance Motorsports McLaren Artura GT4, who ended up second overall and quickest in the Silver class on the combined time sheets.

Westin Workman was third quickest overall in the No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, followed by Josh Green in the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW, a time that was set in opening practice like Jurs.

Yves Baltas completed the overall top-five in the No. 47 Nolasport Porsche.

Michael Cooper, who is seeking to surpass Peter Cunningham in all-time SRO America wins this weekend, was second quickest in the Pro-Am class in his No. 33 Blackdog Racing McLaren.

The No. 21 ACI Motorsports BMW of brothers Michael and Alex Garcia led the way in the Am class in both sessions.

An accident for Spencer Pumpelly in the No. 28 RS1 Porsche during Practice 1 saw the Florida-based team return to the track in the afternoon utilizing a borrowed chassis from Nolasport (pictured below).

Luca Mars set the 16th quickest time overall in the session with the car still in a full livery from the Louisiana-based squad.

Pumpelly and Mars enter this weekend’s action on the string of five consecutive class wins and a hefty points lead in the top class.

Qualifying is set for 9:50 a.m. CST, with Race 1 scheduled for a 3 p.m. CST start with live coverage on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Practice 1/Practice 2

Photo: John Dagys

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