Holton, Pintos Score Sonoma Poles

Photo: Dan Bathie/McLaren

Paul Holton continued his impressive form in McLaren Trophy America, having claimed overall pole for this afternoon’s opening round of the season by more than 1.5 seconds.

Tommy Pintos, meanwhile, will start first for Sunday’s 50-minute contest, having set the quickest lap overall across the two sessions.

Holton, making his series debut in the No. 8 Forte Racing McLaren Artura Trophy EVO, reeled off a chart-topping 1:37.734 in Q1.

It was some 1.540 seconds quicker than the Pro-Am class pole-sitting No. 11 RWE Motorsport McLaren of Scott Schmidt, who was second quickest overall.

James Li qualified third in the sister No. 74 RWE entry, while Coper Broll took Am class pole honors in the No. 100 Forte McLaren with a fourth place overall run.

Keegan Massey completed the overall top five and was the best-placed Papaya Cup entrant.

Q2 saw times tumble at the top of the charts, with Pintos recording a 1:36.671 lap in his Forte entry, which was 0.132 seconds quicker than the No. 53 RPM by Forte McLaren of Kevin Madsen.

Jeff Cook, in the No. 5 GMG Racing entry, will start third overall and on Am class pole, ahead of Pro class pole-sitter Patrick Liddy in the No. 24 Forte McLaren.

Liddy’s qualifying run, however, is under investigation due to taking two checkered flags in the session.

The No. 7 GMG McLaren, repaired following Randy Highland’s accident on Friday, completed the top-five in Q2 in the hands of John Capestro-Dubets.

Race 1 gets underway at 3:05 p.m. PST (6:05 p.m. EST), while Race 2 is on tap for Sunday at 9:50 a.m. PST (12:50 p.m. EST), with live coverage on SRO’s GT World and McLaren’s YouTube channels, featuring commentary from Jonathan Grace, Tom Baker and Amanda Busick.

RESULTS: Qualifying 1/Qualifying 2

Source: Sports Car 365