Aitken set new GTP track qualifying record
Aitken did set new GTP track qualifying record during GTP qualifying session with a 1:31.284. Tom Blomqvist prevented a Cadillac one-two by snatching second place from Louis Deletraz for six-thousandths of a second. Clarcke and Hawksworth also got the Motul Award for pole winner in LMP2 and GTD PRO. GTD qualifying session was abandoned due to heavy crash.
Aitken in #31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac wins pole
Jack Aitken, driver of the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, won the pole for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International with a lap of 1 minute 31.248 seconds (134.544 mph).
It’s the second consecutive pole for Cadillac and for Action Express Racing as they took the top spot in May in Detroit with Earl Bamber at the wheel. They went on to win the race in Cadillac’s hometown.
It’s the 35th pole for Cadillac since 2017 and the fourth of the 2026 season. Cadillac has now won three consecutive poles with three different drivers as Delétraz and the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, won the pole for the Monterey Sportscar Championship at Laguna Seca Raceway, followed by Bamber’s pole at Detroit and now Aitken’s top spot at Watkins Glen.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. #31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac
Jack Aitken, #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R run by Action Express Racing: “It turned out to be quite a long day waiting for the delayed session. But the car felt good. The track feels good and feels quick. Honestly, I'm really happy with the lap that I got together. I knew it would be close and there were a couple of guys within a few tenths. It's very easy to over drive around here and it really invites you to keep pushing more and more so just trying to be controlled. It was nice and clean, and we have the best starting spot for tomorrow. Cadillac Whelen has been awesome for the last few races, and we want to keep it going.”
Can you talk about the momentum this team is on? "(The win at Detroit) was really special. There were so many friends and family around with us. It was the local race for the brand. Seeing the joy in pitlane afterward was really cool for some really distinguished guests and everyone was jumping and cheering and hollering. They're racers like the rest of us. Glad to get that win in the pocket and it gave us great momentum."
What is the outlook for Sunday? "Obviously the car is quick. I think there are a few manufacturers in the mix, which is cool to see. I think it could be quite a strategic race with the tires. There's a bit of drop-off that we've seen this weekend more than previous years. We don't know who the biggest challengers will be until we get to those final two hours and when it gets into crunch time. It will be a cool race." Source: Cadillac Racing
Jeremy Clarke with #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca in LMP2
Jeremy Clarke scored his third pole position this season with a 1:33.838, 0.364 second faster than his practice 1 fastest lap.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca
Jack Hawksworth with #14 Lexus in GTD PRO
Jack Hawksworth reeled a 1:43.701 with Vasser Sullivan Racing #14 Lexus RC F GT3 to qualify first in GTD PRO, 0.213 second ahead of King’s #77 Porsche. Those two cars will start in front row of GTD PRO tomorrow with #1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO and #65 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO in second row. Hawksworth and King were the only GTD PRO qualifying drivers under the 1:44” mark.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. Vasser Sullivan Racing #14 Lexus RC F GT3
GTD Qualifying red flagged; pole based on championship ranking
The #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo will start from the class pole as the session was abandoned following a heavy accident for Russell Ward in the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo over the newly-curbless Bus Stop. As the session was red flagged with just six minutes completed, therefore not meeting the minimum green flag run time, the ranking in GTD is set by team points.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo
Related Info
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. Heinrich quickest in combined practices at The Glen
📷 © Luc Warnotte at The Glen 2026. Aitken fastest during Practice 1 at The Glen
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans 2026. Ricky Taylor talks about the Six Hours of Glen.
📷 © Cadillac Racing. Whelen Cadillac wins on the streets of Detroit
