Stavely leads PWC GTS practice

Drew Staveley of Salt Lake City posted the quickest GTS class time Friday at Utah Motorsports Campus in the No. 12 Ian Lacy Racing Ginetta G55 after two Pirelli World Challenge practice sessions in preparation of this weekend's Security National Mortgage Supercar Grand Prix of Utah.

Staveley, a driving instructor at UMC during the week, recorded his fastest lap in the morning session for the GTS division with a time of 1m59.403s to list him as one of the favorites for the pole position set for Saturday morning at the 3.048-mile, 14-turn racing circuit located southwest of Salt Lake City. Drew also clocked a 1m59.903s in the afternoon practice.

"I had to wake up early and got here for the morning TV show," said Staveley. "We knew this morning we had a good car from yesterday. We went out and the car was really good. The second or third lap ended up being the fastest lap, which is good for us, since all the guys were working hard. It's really cool too since all their families are coming out tomorrow as this is our home track.

"(Winning the pole) would be a huge victory for us. I probably have a little more experience here. I get to work here so I literally drive this track four to five days a week. (The Ginetta) is great, a nice lively little car that we got dialed in."

Second overall in GTS practice was Lime Rock Park double winner Rodrigo Baptista with a 1m59.460s in the afternoon runs in the No. 3 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR. Topping out the fastest five in GTS was veteran Jeff Courtney with a 1m59.617s in the No. 99 RecStuff.com/KENDA Maserati GT4 in third and Martin Barkey at 2m00.237s in fourth in the No. 80 Mantella Autosports KTM X-Bow GT4, and Nate Stacy in the No. 14 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR at 2m00.534s.

"The car was pretty good today," said Baptista. "This is a different type of track because it so flat from places like Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio. We need to improve the car more for qualifying and the race. But the team is going to make the car better, I am sure for Saturday."

The top GTS Am class runner Friday was rookie Jason Bell in the No. 2 Racer's Edge SIN R1 GT4 at 2m00.646s, followed by GTS Am point leader George Kurtz in the CrowdStrike/GMG McLaren 570S at 2m00.667s and Mark Klenin in the No. 62 KPR/Tender Belly McLaren 570S GT at 2m00.990s.

Qualifying for the GTS division is set for Saturday at 8:55 a.m. MDT. Round 13 of the PWC GTS campaign will get underway at 3:10 p.m. MDT.