Heylen puts Conquest on top for opening day of Sebring IMSA test

Jan Heylen in the No.34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 led the first day of IMSA's Sanctioned Test at Sebring International Raceway, setting the fastest time in both of Tuesday's three-hour test sessions.

The Belgian veteran, who also raced for Conquest at the 2012 Sebring 12 Hours – and scored his only Champ Car World Series podium with the same team in 2007 – led the morning session with a 2m01.904s, then improved in the afternoon session to a 2m01.737s. He was the only driver under the 2m02s barrier over a single lap.

Conquest Racing was a late addition to the entry list at this week's test, with Heylen and Jaden Conwright filling in for the team's regular drivers Manny Franco and Daniel Serra.

The fastest cars in GTD outpaced the fastest car in GTD PRO – the No.14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3.

More IMSA

Great start, middling finish, but Wickens still comes away from Long Beach smiling

Stars align in ‘race of the year’ for Acura and MSR

Yelloly, van der Zande and Meyer Shank Acura soar to Long Beach IMSA win

Hot off a win at the Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Dubai, Ben Barnicoat and the No.14 Lexus led GTD PRO in the morning session with a best time of 2m03.019s. His co-driver, Aaron Telitz, went two-tenths better in the afternoon, setting a 2m02.829s.

However, the No.12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus in GTD, which was another late addition to the entry list, did not run in either session.

In GTD, Philip Ellis was second-fastest in the morning session driving the No.57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, followed by Kenton Koch in the No.32 Korthoff Competition Motors Mercedes.

Maximilian Götz put the No.32 Mercedes second in the afternoon, ahead of Scott Andrews in the No.80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes in third, and Russell Ward in the No.57 Mercedes in fourth.

In GTD PRO, the two Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3s were second and third in the morning session. Daytona 24 Hours winner Chris Mies was second-quickest in the No.65 Mustang, and Ben Barker, returning from a collarbone injury, was third-fastest in the No.64 Mustang.

Barker was second-fastest in the afternoon, ahead of the No.48 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3 of Jesse Krohn in third place. The No.48 BMW of Krohn, Dan Harper, and Max Hesse also logged the most laps of the day, with 132.

The morning session was red flagged twice for separate stoppages involving the No.77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, and the No.78 Forte Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 at the very end of the session.

Tomorrow, the GTP and LMP2 classes will join the fray for three test sessions, running from 9:00 AM-12:30 PM, 1:30-6:00 PM, plus a night-time test from 7:00-9:00 PM.