Canada’s Kuno Wittmer became the first ever driver to set pole position in the IMSA Continental Tire Sportcar Challenge’s new TCR Class. At the wheel of his Compass Racing Audi RS3 LMS, Wittmer clocked a fastest Qualifying lap of 2:00.550 that will place him 26th overall on the grid for the 4-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona.
“We were chasing some gremlins yesterday and Compass 360 and Audi Sport, they found it, so thanks to them,”Wittmer said. “The car is good. I think we’re pumped and we’re ready for tomorrow. Now, it’s all about race prep, let’s get the driver changes done and four smooth hours."
After scoring a 2017 season-finale, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans victory at the Motul Petit Le Mans in October, Wittmer’s move to the Continental Tire Challenge paddock with Compass Racing has proven to be a good choice and his perception of TCR also adds inspiration.
“It was time to find a new venture, maybe something that’s new for the future,”said Wittmer. “I think the TCR platform is going to be the future, so why not start early? Why not get into it and get to know how everything works? I’m really looking forward to the season.”
Wittmer will share the car with Rodrigo Sales during the 4-hour race that start today at 1:00pm local time. The other two Compass Racing Audi cars qualified second and third in the TCR class: Britt Casey/Tom Long second (2:00.620) and Roy Block/Pierre Kleinubing (2:00.738).
Picture: courtesy of IMSA