SunEnergy1 AMG Quickest in Indy Bronze Test
Mercedes-AMG team SunEnergy1 Racing with Akkodis ASP led Thursday afternoon’s Paid Bronze Test, the first timed session of the weekend.
The 2022 Bathurst 12 Hour Race winning team and driver Martin Konrad set the pace early on, and then established the benchmark with a time of 1’22.970.
Konrad and Kenny Habul, who were both part of the Bathurst-winning squad earlier this year, can clinch the Intercontinental GT Challenge Pro-Am Drivers’ Championship this weekend.
Second-quickest was Richard Heistand in the #94 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT3, with a time of 1’23.515. The IMSA GTD mainstay is on board to assist Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen in their outside bid for the GT World Challenge America Pro-Am titles.
In third was the #23 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari 488 GT3, its quickest time recorded by owner/driver Onofrio Triarsi Jnr.
The entire thirty minute session was run without any stoppages or red flags, as partly-cloudy skies and slightly cool temperatures welcomed the teams for this first session.
The #04 CrowdStrike Racing by Riley Motorsports AMG GT3 (Ben Keating) and the #93 Racers Edge Motorsports Acura NSX GT3 (Ashton Harrison) rounded out the top five in the session, two more GTWCA Pro-Am title contenders who have a genuine shot to win their class and win the championship for their respective teams.
The current GTWCA Pro-Am points leaders, the #45 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3-R, finished the session in eighth with Elia Erhart setting the team’s best time.
Chris Cagnazzi was sixth-fastest in the new #39 Stephen Cameron Racing AMG GT3, followed by the #91 TR3 Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 in seventh ahead of Erhart.
The #08 DXDT Racing AMG GT3 (Scott Smithson) was ninth-fastest as the fastest of the two Am Cup entries, while the #43 RealTime Racing NSX GT3 (Erin Vogel) rounded out the top ten.
Attention now turns to the 90-minute Free Practice session tonight at 6:30 PM EDT. It will be the first time that all 25 Indy 8 Hour entries will be on track for a timed session – and it’ll be the first night time running in preparation for the race’s scheduled finish at 8:00 PM EDT on Saturday.
Feature image © Brian Cleary / SRO Motorsports Group America
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