Stand-In Tunjo Takes COTA Pole

Photo: IMSA

Oscar Tunjo wasn’t even planning to be at Circuit of The Americas but when the checkered flag fell on IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge qualifying under cover of darkness on Friday night, the Colombian found himself on the pole position.

Tunjo posted a best time of 1:30.150 in the No. 31 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 Nissan to earn the top LMP3 and overall starting position for the first race of Saturday’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge doubleheader on the 2.4-mile COTA layout.

Tunjo was pressed into service this week to drive the No. 31 entry when Markus Pommer had to withdraw due to a bad cold.

Tunjo bested teammate and P3 points leader Valentino Catalano by 0.028 seconds to lead a 1-2 sweep for Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports. Tunjo brings two years of LMP3 experience from the European Le Mans Series and was pleased to get his first laps at COTA.

Catalano’s best lap was 1:30.178 to qualify second. He swept both races of the VP Racing Challenge season-opening doubleheader at Daytona in January, and will start from the pole in tomorrow’s second race by virtue of having the quickest second-fastest lap. Tunjo will line up on the outside of the front row for that race.

Jonathan Woolridge rounded out the top three in P3 qualifying with a best lap of 1:32.497  aboard the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320 Nissan.

Walker Claims GTDX Pole in Turner BMW

Jake Walker motored the No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 to the GTDX pole position by posting a best lap of 1:32.604.

Walker will start both of Saturday’s 45-minute races from the GTDX class pole, as his second-fastest lap also bested his fellow competitors.

Walker has shown plenty of speed in the early going of the VP Racing Challenge season, but he missed the first race of the Daytona doubleheader due to an incident. As a result, he’s facing a steep climb from ninth in the GTDX point standings coming into the weekend.

Adam Adelson, who swept both ends of the Daytona doubleheader, will line up second for both races in GTDX.

Adelson’s best qualifying lap in the No. 24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R was a 1:32.875. Matias Perez Companc qualified third in the No. 50 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 at 1:33.037.

Porto Stays Perfect with GSX Pole

Kiko Porto has now been first in every GSX race and qualifying session so far this season.

After sweeping both races and qualifying at Daytona, Porto was at it again in qualifying at COTA.

As the last few rays of sunlight disappeared into darkness on Friday night, Porto piloted his No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 to a best lap of 1:39.252 to take the pole position. His second-fastest lap will keep him on pole for Saturday’s nightcap also.

Porto’s teammate, Ian Porter qualified second in GSX with a best lap of 1:39.907 in the No. 68 RAFA Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO.

Steven Clemons made it a top-three sweep for Toyota Supras with a best lap of 1:40.331 in the No. 76 BSI Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

The first race of Saturday’s doubleheader takes the green flag at 8:40 a.m. CT, with the second race scheduled for 5 p.m. CT. Both races will be streamed live in the U.S. on Peacock, with international live streaming available on IMSA’s official YouTube Channel.

RESULTS: Qualifying