Braun Tops Opening Practice in Sonoma

Photo: Brian Cleary/SRO

Colin Braun led the way in opening practice for this weekend’s GT World Challenge America powered by AWS round at Sonoma Raceway.

Braun, in the No. 04 DXDT Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo reeled off a best lap of 1:38.216 to go quickest in the 60-minute session and nearly two-tenths clear of the competition.

Braun and George Kurtz are coming off a breakthrough first overall victory last month at Virginia International Raceway.

Jeff Segal made a late-session improvement to put the No. 24 TR3 Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 second on the time sheets in Sonoma.

The No. 93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 Evo of Trent Hindman and Shelby Blackstock was third quickest, thanks to a 1:38.571 lap time.

It is the only Acura taking part this weekend following the withdrawal of the sister Racers Edge entry due to COVID-19-related travel issues for Kyle Marcelli and Martin Barkey.

The No. 20 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Max Root and No. 63 DXDT Mercedes of Ryan Dalziel completed the top-five overall.

Jason Daskalos was quickest of the GT Sports Club America competitors, which are again taking part in the opening portions of the GTWC America races this weekend.

Daskalos, in an Audi R8 LMS ultra, was some three seconds quicker than the fastest GT2-spec car, the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport of Kyle Washington.

Eleven of the 12 entered cars across both series turned laps, with only the No. 2 GMG Porsche GT2 of Jason Bell not setting a time.

The second and final practice session of the day gets underway at 3:10 p.m. PT.

RESULTS: Practice 1 (GTWC) / Practice 1 (GTSC)

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