IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge champions TeamTGM got the Sebring event weekend off to a fast start after Owen Trinkler piloted the No. 46 JKTGFoundation.org / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4 to the MOTUL pole with a fast lap time of 2:10.521-seconds. The time is a new track record by over one second.
Trinkler will lead the field for the two-hour race before turning the car over to his co-driver and fellow IMSA champion, Hugh Plumb who will finish the race.
The Sebring pole marks the second career IMSA GS pole position for Trinkler as well as the first ever pole position for TeamTGM. The effort displayed the progress that the team has made in its second year with the Mercedes-AMG GT4 platform.
“I’m still learning how to qualify well, said the understated Trinkler, who has over 150 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race starts to his credit. “I knew that I wanted to get out there and if I had a gap in the traffic, that I was just going to go for it with the JKTGFoundation.org car. We are normally good on long runs, but we made a little change before qualifying for the car to be quicker on a one lap run. I can’t thank my TeamTGM boys enough, this is a good way to rebound from Daytona. I feel good about what we are doing as a team, and so happy for Ted (Giovanis) and all these TeamTGM guys. I love coming to Sebring, some great fans.”
Team owner and qualifying driver of the No. 4 JKTGFoundation.org / Camp Boggy Creek Mercedes-AMG GT4 had a progressive run that showed his qualifying development behind the wheel. Giovanis bested his 2018 qualifying time by three seconds to place him 26th in the order for the start of the Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 on Friday along with co-driver, Guy Cosmo.
“I think we were pleased that I was able to get up to speed fast—that’s something I’ve been working to improve on with these new Michelin tires,” said Giovanis. “Once I knew they would stick, I was able to throw down a good lap. But then we had the red flag, so they ended the session early and I wasn’t able to get more laps in.”
Although Giovanis wishes he got just a bit more out of his qualifying run, he was ecstatic over the performance of his team and Trinkler for locking in the team’s first ever pole position.
“It’s really great for the team to get the pole, Owen did a great job on that lap,” continued Giovanis. “Hugh and he were looking at the data and looking at how good Owen was in certain sections, and I think them talking through all that data and what was working—it is a team effort that really paid off.”
Source. Sunday Group
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