PWC: Udell/Holden duo lead first SprintX practice at MRLS Friday

2016 Porsche GT Cup point champion Alec Udell and veteran Brent Holden paced the first SprintX practice session in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Friday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Udell, a 12-time race winner in the GT Cup division in 2016, clocked the fastest time of one minute, 24.970 seconds for an average speed of 94.819 miles per hour after 19 laps in the 30-minute morning grouping at the legendary 2.238-mile, 11-turn permanent road circuit just east of Monterey Bay.

Second quickest in the SprintX practice runs were the pair of Michael Mills and John Edwards in the No. 46 MillsRacing.Airtech Vacuum BMW Z4 GT3 with a time of 1:25.409 (94.332mph) followed by the No. 23 M1 GT 1 Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra machine of David Ostella, a former Indy Lights driver, and Dion Von Moltke at a 1:25.45 (94.292mph), the No. 54 Black Swan Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Tim Pappas and veteran Andy Pilgrim, at 1:26.011 (93.672mph) and the No. 80 Long Star Racing Dodge Viper GT3-R of Don Knox and Mike Skeen, with a 1:26.114 (93.560mph).

Sixth in Friday morning’s practice was the Utah SprintX double winning of Preston Calvert, and Michael Lewis in the No. 98 Calvert Dynamics/CurbAgajanian Porsche 911 GT3 R at 1:26.198 (93.469mph)

The next SprintX practice round is set for Friday afternoon at 1:20 p.m. PDT.