Long Snatches Pole for SprintX Race 1 at Lime Rock

Photo: Wright Motorsports

Patrick Long will start this afternoon’s Pirelli World Challenge SprintX round from the pole, after snatching the top spot in the closing moments of the session at Lime Rock.

The Porsche factory driver laid down a 57.649 in his No. 58 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R to edge out the No. 2 CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Daniel Morad by a mere 0.014 seconds.

Long is sharing driving duties this weekend with reigning FIA World Endurance Champion Marc Lieb, who fills in for regular SprintX co-driver Joerg Bergmeister.

The No. 4 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS of Spencer Pumpelly qualified third, with Ryan Eversley putting the No. 43 RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3 a season-best fourth on the grid, with the Acura benefitting from the wet conditions.

SprintX championship leader Michael Cooper, meanwhile, completed the top-five in the No. 8 Cadillac ATS-V.R.

The No. 75 Always Evolving Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 will start from pole in GT Pro-Am, thanks to Frankie Montecalvo’s 58.606 lap time, which put him 10th overall on the grid.

GT Pro-Pro and Pro-Am/Am-Am qualified separately, following a decision to split the sessions.

Yuki Harata claimed top qualifying honors in GT Cup in his No. 55 Dream Racing Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo.

Race 1 of the weekend is set for 3:55 p.m. ET with live coverage on Motor Trend OnDemand.

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