With slightly more than 10 minutes remaining in the session, Spencer Pumpelly turned a lap at 1:29.966 (100.038 mph) to claim the top spot in Rolex Series GT class practice at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Pumpelly was the only GT driver to top the 100-mph barrier in Thursday’s practice sessions.
Pumpelly is sharing the No. 67 machine with 18-year-old Scott Schroeder, who is making his Rolex Series debut this weekend. Schroeder, who competed in the season-opening Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series event at Daytona International Speedway in January, turned testing laps within one second of his considerably more experienced co-driver.
“The track gets better and better each session and the times will keep dropping, †Pumpelly said. “The track is bumpy in parts and the Porsche handles it pretty well, but the Mazdas and the (Pontiac) GXPs will be good too. I don’t have a lot of laps here but the TRG guys put together a really great effort and I love the fast track. This is one of our best events and I love Mexico and the people. Our biggest plus is the winning experience TRG has here. I am glad I am here with a team as good as TRG. â€
Second-quickest in GT was Andrew Davis in the No. 72 North South Machinery/ANCA/Dunkel Bros/Tornos Porsche GT3 at 1:30.139 (99.846 mph). Davis is co-driving the No. 72 Tafel Racing machine with Nathan Swartzbaugh and both drivers are looking for their first GT victory in the Rolex Series this weekend.
“The track is super dirty like last year but that will get better, †Davis said. “We made some changes – right in pit lane – and they worked out. The Tafel Racing team does a real good job and our Porsche is fast. I wouldn’t say Porsche is the car to beat as the other cars and guys are going to be quick, but I am proud of the team. We tried a lot in two sessions and it showed at the end. â€
Third-quickest in GT was Kelly Collins in the No. 07 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP. R with a lap at 1:1:30.563 (99.373 mph). Collins—who won the GT class in last year’s Mexico City 400k—is sharing the No. 07 machine with Paul Edwards, who has won the GT class in both previous Rolex Series events in Mexico.
SpeedSource owner/driver Sylvain Tremblay was fourth-quickest in GT with a lap at 1:30.626 (99.309 mph) in the No. 70 Mazda/Mazdaspeed RX-8 he is sharing with Nick Ham, and Wolf Henzler rounded out the class top five in the No. 74 Rembrandt Charms/Tafel Racing Porsche GT3 at 1:30.642 (99.292 mph). Henzler’s co-driver is 18-year-old Eric Lux.
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