The Pirelli GT4 America field lit up Barber Motorsports Park on Saturday as part of the UAB Medicine GT World Alabama benefiting Teal Wings of Hope event, with a pair of high-intensity qualifying sessions setting the stage for this weekend’s races.
Aston Martin dominated in Silver, Porsche and McLaren traded blows in Pro-Am, while BMW-powered entries kept the Am fight wide open. The grid is now set for what promises to be two action-packed races in the South.
* Following the session, the No. 9 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport was reported under the minimum weight post-Qualifying and assessed a penalty for a technical infringement, resulting in the loss of its Qualifying 1 pole position. This promoted Matt Bell in the No. 43 P1 Groupe McLaren Artura GT4 to the top spot in Pro-Am, while the ACI entry will start from the back of the grid for both Race 1 and Race 2.
Silver Class
Qualifying 1
Aston Martin and JMF Motorsports showcased their strength with a Silver class lockout. Mike David Ortmann claimed class pole and third overall in the No. 4 JMF Motorsports Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO, and teammate Jesse Webb will start alongside him in the No. 3 sister car. Luca Mars completed the Aston Martin sweep in Silver, driving the No. 39 van der Steur Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO to third.
Qualifying 2
Tyler Gonzalez powered the No. 68 RAFA Racing Team Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to Silver class pole for Sunday’s race, securing third overall on the grid. He will be joined on the class front row by Mads Siljehaug in the No. 71 Marco Polo Motorsports Toyota Supra. Kenton Koch placed third in class and fifth overall in the No. 97 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO, putting the championship leaders in a strong position to collect another solid points haul.
Pro-Am Class
Qualifying 1
Loek Hartog topped both the Pro-Am class and the overall field in the No. 9 ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. Matt Bell followed in second in the No. 43 P1 Groupe McLaren Artura GT4, while Riley Dickinson secured third in the No. 7 ACI Porsche and fifth overall.
Qualifying 2
Michael Cooper struck early with a flying lap in the No. 33 Blackdog Racing McLaren Artura GT4, earning overall pole and Pro-Am class honors with a time of 1:28.312. Matheus Leist followed closely in the No. 23 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, only 0.242 seconds behind. Tyler McQuarrie completed the class top three in the No. 82 BimmerWorld Racing BMW M4 GT4, starting ninth overall as he is separated from the Pro-Am competitors by a slew of Silver entrants.
Am Class
Qualifying 1
Laura Hayes set the benchmark in Am, placing the No. 606 Thunder Bunny Racing BMW M4 GT4 at the top of the category and 12th overall. James Clay followed in the No. 36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 EVO, with Paul Sparta rounding out the top three in class in the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW.
Qualifying 2
Darius Trinka claimed the Am class pole for Race 2 in the No. 98 Random Vandals Racing BMW M4 GT4 (G82) EVO. Allen Patten secured second in the Thunder Bunny Racing BMW, while Charlie Postins placed third in the No. 36 BimmerWorld Racing entry.
Let’s Get Racing
The Pirelli GT4 America field will return to the track for Race 1 on Saturday afternoon, September 6th at 4:50 PM CT.
If you can’t make it to Barber Motorsports Park, be sure to tune-in to SRO’s free live streams all weekend long on YouTube (GTWorld) and Twitch (SROMotorsports) and follow all the action through our social media channels and the event hashtag #GTBHM.