Bamber completes Friday sweep at Detroit with Pole position in red-flagged qualifying session

Credit: Michelin Racing USA via X

Earl Bamber had it his way once more on Detroit, taking pole in a qualifying session, that was red-flagged due to Kevin Estre crashing his No.6 Porsche, with Cadillac securing a front-row lockout.

It was Earl Bamber day in Detroit, as the 35-year-old dominated proceedings for IMSA's Detroit Grand Prix, securing pole position, after a session cut short due to a red flad, caused by Kevin Estre, with Cadillac making it 1-2 in the GTP class.

In GTD Pro Pratt Motorsport Lexus managed a front-row lockout of their own, courtesy of poleman Alexander Sims and Tommy Milner.

As it happened

GTD Pro

With only 15 minutes on the clock, all drivers knew they had to deliver, without overdoing it, as Detroit's walls were awaiting any potential victims.

Early on Frederic Vervisch in the No.65 Ford Racing Mustang GT3 set an early benchmark of 1:11.323, quickly beaten by the sister No.64 car of Ben Barker who first dipped below the 1:10 mark, setting a lap time of 1:10.849.

After that, and with the track continuously evolving, the session turned into ''The Chevy show'', with the two Chevrolet Corvettes, of Alexander Sims and Tommy Milner topping the time sheets, seemingly half a step ahead of all others.

Vervisch had a small off with around five minutes to go, meanwhile Sims kept doing quicker and quicker times, wit a provisional pole lap time of 1:09.564, then being improved to a stunning 1:09.354, which proved just enough to give the No.3 Paul Miller Racing driver Pole Position.

Things turned out perfectly for the team as with a last-gasp effort, the sister car, the No.4, driven by Tommy Milner went second fastest, with a 1:09.397, just missing out on pole, but giving the team a front-row lockout, with the third placed No.14 Pratt Motorsports Lexus of Ben Barnicoat three tenths away.

Credit: Pratt Miller Motorsports via Facebook

GTP

High flying Earl Bamber, who sweeped the two practice sessions in the No.31 Whelen Cadillac, set an early benchmark of 1:05.885, which gave him the provisional pole for some time, before Nick Yelloly in the No.93 Acura and Louis Deletraz in the No.40 Wayne Taylor Cadillac, subsequently demoted him, before he grabbed first place again, with a 1:05.313.

The session though was turned on its head with around three minutes to go, as disaster befell upon Penske Porsche.

First, the No.7 car driven by Felipe Nasr went long on the approach to turn 1, stopping on its tracks and having to reverse, when moments later the sister No.6 car driven by Kevin Estre, affected by that, had the line into turn 1 compromised, crashing on its exit.

Immediately red flags were shown, which meant the 1:05.313 was enough for Bamber to complete the full Friday sweep, taking Pole Position, with Deletraz in second, completing a Cadillac front-row lockout of their own, whilst Yelloly stayed in third, with the two BMWs, the No.25 of Marco Wittmann and No.24 Sheldon Van der Linde rounding out the top five.

In his post-session quotes, Bamber stated the following: “The car has been amazing. We had a great car last year too. Did some good sim work. This 31 Cadillac Whelen team has done some amazing stuff. When they give you a great Cadillac, it makes your job easier. Can’t wait for it.”