ALTON, Virginia – Ryan Gates again paced the GT Sports Club America field at VIRginia International Raceway securing both poles for the series' inaugural Rounds 1 and 2 at VIRginia International Raceway. Saturday morning's 30-minute session, held under sunny, 83-degree Fahrenheit conditions, was split into two 15 minute segments with the first heat setting the Round 1 grid and the second for the Round 2 grid.
Early on in the first segment, Gates running in the overall class, set an early fast time of 1:49.372 behind the wheel of his #311 311RS Motorsport Porsche 911 GT2 RS CS. Fellow overall class competitor Jason Bell, in the #2 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS Clubsport then slotted into second on the grid with a 1:51.516.
Iron Division competitor Stu Frederick, piloting the #57 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT2 RS CS then posted a 1:51.333, good, at the time, for second overall on the charts.
Overall class competitor Karl Leinsing in the #54 Atech Design Porsche 911 GT2 RS CS posted a 1:55.724 and will start fourth.
Gates then improved his chart leading time to a 1:48.304, while Bell went faster with a 1:51.329. At the checkered, Gates secured the first ever GT Sports Club America Series pole.
In the second segment, Gates posted an early time of 1:48.611 and that held for the session. Bell will start second (1:50.841) and Leinsing third (1:55.010). Frederick did not take to the track for the second session and will start fourth.
Results are provisional until posted final. GT Sports Club America Series drivers now get set for Round 1 at VIR set for a green flag start Saturday afternoon at 1:45 Eastern. Watch the race live on youtube.com/GTWorld.
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GTSC Qual1 Provisional Results - PDF Link
GTSC Qual2 Provisional Results - PDF Link