Andrea Caldarelli claimed pole for the Michelin GT Challenge at Virginia International Raceway.
Driving the #9 Lamborghini Temerario GT3 for Pfaff Motorsports, the Italian threw down a flying lap of 1m44.773s around the 3.27-mile, 18-turn natural terrain road course. It marked the third career IMSA pole for Caldarelli.
Nicky Catsburg, driving the #4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports, finished the session second by 0.151s.
Paul Miller Racing’s Neil Verhagen was third, guiding his #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO to a lap just 0.184s off Caldarelli’s mark.
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Ford Racing’s Frederic Vervisch set the early benchmark at 1m45.684s, with Alexander Sims (Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports) in second at 1m45.938s. Although Verhagen jumped to the top with a 1m44.968s lap, it was temporary as Caldarelli dethroned him with a 1m44.773s lap with roughly four minutes remaining.
Caldarelli’s lap continued to hold with a minute to go, while Catsburg jumped up to second with a quick lap of 1m44.924s. Verhagen fitted fresh tyres and initially jumped Catsburg with a 1m44.810s lap. However, a penalty carried over from causing a red flag in practice cost him his fastest qualifying lap, dropping him back to third at the chequered flag.
Max Esterson’s best run was fourth with RLL Team McLaren’s #59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo. Car Blanche’s Valentin Hasse-Clot ended up fifth in the #68 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
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Casper Stevenson Casper Stevenson went quickest with two minutes remaining on a 1m45.188s, a time that held to the chequered flag and put DragonSpeed’s No. 81 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R on GTD pole. It marks the team's second consecutive pole at VIR, after DragonSpeed confirmed earlier in the day they would not be returning to IMSA next season.
The #34 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo for Conquest Racing ended up second courtesy of Lorenzo Patrese, who held the top spot early before finishing 0.058s behind Stevenson. Winward Racing’s Russell Ward was third in the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, off by 0.139s.
Danny Formal had a brief airborne moment after clipping the curbing with just under seven minutes, but rebounded at the end to slot the #45 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo in fourth for Wayne Taylor Racing.
Turner Motorsport’s Patrick Gallagher put the #96 BMW M4 GT3 Evo in fifth at the conclusion of the session.
