August 25, 2023

By Mark Robinson

IMSA Wire Service

ALTON, Va. – The conditions were sizzling Friday at VIRginia International Raceway. So were the Vasser Sullivan Lexuses.

Ben Barnicoat led opening practice for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIR, ahead of Sunday’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race on the 17-turn, 3.27-mile road course. Barnicoat was the overall and GT Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class leader with a best lap of 1 minute, 45.201 seconds (111.899 mph) in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.

The Brit clocked the pacesetting lap on a new set of Michelins in the final two minutes of the 90-minute session in sweltering surroundings, with ambient temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, Vasser Sullivan teammate Aaron Telitz was third overall and second in GT Daytona (GTD) cars with a late lap of 1:45.394 (111.694 mph) in the No. 12 Lexus.

“Super-hot here at VIR but it was a strong day for us,” Barnicoat said. “Always nice to be fastest in practice but we all know there’s no points for that. We learned a lot. We ran on high-mileage tires, new tires as well. I feel like we still have a bit of work to do ahead of the race to further improve our car, but we rolled out very strong thanks to all the hard work of everyone at Vasser Sullivan and Lexus.”

Barnicoat said the car he shares with Jack Hawksworth – who he also shares the GTD PRO points lead with – is strong for short runs in the sultry conditions that are expected again for qualifying on Saturday. The No. 14 crew will work on the car for full-stint runs in Saturday’s practice to prepare for the race that’s forecast in cooler conditions.

“I feel for one-lap pace for qualifying, we’re in a strong window for sure,” he said. “That was definitely the best our car felt. Then hopefully it’s going to cool off a little bit on Sunday as well, which should play nicely into our hands. If the weatherman’s right, we’re looking good.”

Sandwiched between the two Lexuses on Friday was Patrick Gallagher in the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3. Gallagher led GTD and was second overall with his 1:45.234 lap (111.864 mph). Gallagher, who shares the car with Robby Foley, hopes it’s a harbinger of good things to come in a difficult season that sees the No. 96 seventh in the GTD standings with just one podium finish to date.

“First time here in the GT3 car,” Gallagher said. “The Turner guys got this thing hooked up. We were pretty quick in practice. We’ve got some work to do on the balance. We have good one-lap pace but we need to keep rubbing on it to make it good for the race trim. But it’s a good start.”

The final practice starts at 10:20 a.m. ET Saturday ahead of qualifying to set the 19-car race grid at 3:45 Saturday afternoon. The two-hour, 40-minute race airs live beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday on USA Network.