Patrick Long qualified 3rd in GT for the American Le Mans Series race at Lime Rock, CT today, posting a quick lap of 51.872 around the ultra-tight, technical parklike circuit. Long will try for his third consecutive victory at the shortest circuit the ALMS visits, and his co-driver Jörg Bergmeister will attempt his sixth straight win at Lime Rock. Driving the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Long split the factory BMWs, which qualified 1-2, and the factory Corvettes, which qualified 4-5.
He said, “I was lying in fifth when my pit crew requested me to come in. But my gut feeling told me that I could do better. So I stayed out for another lap and that lap was then perfect,” said Patrick Long. “It felt just a good as my fastest lap last year where I secured pole position. It’s just that the gap to the cars at the front is simply too big. We just can’t match their pace due to the balance of performance regulations. The weather can play a huge factor here, but we feel like we’ve got a good setup for tomorrow’s race, whether rain or shine.”
Coverage of the American Le Mans Series from Lime Rock will be streamed live, beginning at 1:50pm ET, Saturday July 9, on ESPN3.com, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 from 1:00 – 3:00pm ET on Sunday, July 10.