Jack Aitken set a Grand Touring Prototype track record with a lap of 1 minute, 31.284 seconds (134.544 mph), earning the pole position for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race Sunday at Watkins Glen International.
The No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R will start first in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen after the fourth pole position of Aitken’s IMSA career and first at the 11-turn, 3.4-mile road course.
The No. 60 Acura Meyer Shank Racing, the defending race winner, will start second after Tom Blomqvist was 0.197 seconds behind Atiken with a lap of 1:31.481 (134.254 mph). Louis Deletraz qualified third in the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing Cadillac with a lap of 1:31.487 (134.245).
STARTING GRIDS: Starting lineup l Lineup by row l Lineup by car number
“I think all of Whelen Cadillac have been on a great roll, so nothing has really changed in the last few races,’’ said Aitken, whose team has a streak of seven consecutive podium finishes dating to the last two races of the 2025 season.
“This is certainly a place I wanted to get pole since we came so close last year. I wasn’t massively confident and try not to be too optimistic going into these things. It’s very easy to make a mistake around here. It invites you to push a lot and you can trip over yourself. So, I just try to take it steady and get a clean lap in and that turned out to be quite a good one.”
Qualifying was delayed by three hours because of track repairs after Saturday afternoon’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race. The curbing in the chicane was removed.
“It was okay, it’s a tough one to adjust going into qualifying,” Aitken said. “Any type of track changes halfway through a weekend is never ideal, but I think IMSA did a good job under the circumstances. It hasn’t changed the line a huge amount for us. Some of the GT guys can cut it a lot more now, but we don’t have the clearance for that. … I’m not going to be the first to try it.’’
Here are the pole-sitters in other categories for Sunday’s six-hour race on the 11-turn, 3.4-mile road course in Watkins Glen, New York (which will begin shortly after noon ET on Peacock):
- LMP2: Jeremy Clarke,No. 43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA LMP2 07, 1 minute, 35.124 seconds (129.113 mph)
- GTD Pro: Jack Hawksworth, No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3, 1 minute, 43.701 seconds (118.434 mph)
- GTD: Heart of Racing Team No. 27 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo (awarded pole based on points standings)
Watkins Glen qualifying roundup
Starting lineup
Lineup by row
Lineup by car number
Results
Results by class
Fastest lap by driver
Fastest lap by driver after qualifying
Fastest lap by driver and class after qualifying
Best sector times
Fastest lap sequence
Time cards
Flag analysis with race control messages
Weather report
Track limits report
