3GT Racing qualifies both cars top ten for America’s 250
SALINAS, CA (September 23, 2017) – 3GT Racing’s Lexus RC F GT3s earned two top ten positions on the starting grid for tomorrow’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix.
The No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3 qualified P5 and the No. 15 qualified P8 in the 15-minute GTD class session. Both cars rebounded to the top ten after fuel system issues put the cars among the bottom during practice sessions.
“We always want to be in the front row,” said John Gentilozzi, 3GT Racing’s Technical Director. “but given where we were in the first three practices, I’m really happy with our qualifying positions.
“Overall it was a good effort and puts us in a good position for tomorrow and I really think it shows a lot about our drivers, engineers, and crew that we were able to come back from essentially last, in a couple of the practice sessions. We struggled with some fuel system issues and came out of it with both cars qualifying in the top ten.”
Sage Karam, who qualified the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3, with a fastest lap of 1:25.394, said qualifying went better than he expected.
“We’d been struggling with the balance this weekend,” Karam said. “Then this morning, (at the third practice) we finished 15th out of 16, so to move from 15th to 5th in qualifying a few hours later – well that’s a big jump. I’m really pleased. The team worked so hard to get us there. It’s definitely a spot that we can work with.”
Karam will drive the No. 14 with Robert Alon in The America’s 250, the 11th race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Scott Pruett qualified the No. 15 Lexus RC F GT3 with a fastest lap of 1:25.533. Pointing out that less than a tenth of a second differentiates the top 10 in the GTD class, Pruett said he thinks he and teammate Jack Hawksworth will be able to find that tenth of a second when it’s race time.
Pruett also pointed out that the Lexus RC F GT3 cars have never turned a lap at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile course in Northern California.
“This is a tough track,” he said. “Most of the guys we’re racing against have been here before, have tested, have raced, they have data. We are so happy to go from where we were yesterday, to where we are now. Our car is in much better spot. You always want to do better, but considering the circumstances, both cars have a solid place to start tomorrow. I guess we’ll see where we get when the checkered flag flies.”
The green flag will drop for Sunday’s The America’s 250 at 5:05 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Sept. 24. IMSA.com will provide live coverage of the race and it will be broadcast live on FS1 beginning at 5 p.m. (ET).
About 3GT Racing
3GT Racing was formed to race the Lexus RC F GT3. Owned and operated by five-time Trans-Am Series Champion, Paul Gentilozzi and his longtime partners, Tony and John Gentilozzi, the East Lansing, Michigan-based team principals have been involved in motorsports for more than 46 years and have claimed more than 75 victories and 15 manufacturer and driver championships.
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