Austin Cindric topped GT qualifying for the Pirelli World Challenge round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday in his K-PAX Racing McLaren 650S GT3.
Cindric lapped the Midwestern circuit with a time of 1:19.397 in his No. 6 McLaren, taking his first-ever PWC GT pole in the process.
He beat team-mate Alvaro Parente to the top spot, who will start this evening’s race alongside him in his No. 9 K-PAX McLaren.
“We’ve know it’s been possible, and we’ve known we have the pace,” said Cindric. “It all came together and this is a big one for us.
“I also believe we have a new track record. Great day, I hope we can capitalize during the race.”
Parente was just 0.148 seconds slower than Cindric. Bryan Heitkotter will start from third in his Always Evolving Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, ahead of Jon Fogarty, who put a third McLaren into the top-four.
James Davison was fifth in his Nissan, while Adderly Fong put his Bentley Continental GT3 into sixth for Bentley Team Absolute.
Michael Schein secured the GTA pole in a field of five, and will start from 14th overall in his No. 16 Porsche 911 GT3 R, run by Wright Motorsports.
He qualified ahead of Michael McCann, who took GTA second in his McCann Racing Dodge Viper GT3.
Alec Udell was top in GT Cup for the No. 17 GMG crew. With a lap time of 1:24.134, the Texan out-qualified Sloan Urry.
The qualifying session was in fact the first timed session of the weekend for the GT runners, after Friday’s sole practice run was cancelled due to lightning nearby.
The first of two GT/GTA/GT Cup races this weekend gets underway at 4:35 p.m. ET.
RESULTS: Qualifying