Cadillac and Corvette Dominate Qualifying at Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic

The streets of downtown Detroit set the stage for a high-stakes weekend of racing as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship prepares for the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic. In a dominant showing during Friday’s qualifying session, Cadillac and Corvette secured top honors across their respective classes, setting a competitive tone for Saturday’s 100-minute sprint.

GTP Class: Bamber Leads a Cadillac Front Row

Earl Bamber delivered a standout performance for the Whelen Cadillac team, securing pole position in the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R. Bamber’s quick lap of 1m05.313s around the 1.645-mile, nine-turn street circuit earned him his third career pole and his first in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.

Reflecting on the performance, Bamber credited the team’s preparation and the quality of the machinery. “The car has been amazing,” Bamber said. “We had a great car last year too. Did some good sim work. This 31 Cadillac Whelen team has done some amazing stuff. When they give you a great Cadillac, it makes your job easier.”

Louis Deletraz, driving the No. 40 Cadillac for Wayne Taylor Racing, will start alongside Bamber on the front row after qualifying second, trailing the leader by 0.322 seconds. The session was ultimately cut short by a red flag following an incident involving the No. 6 Porsche 963, which ended the session with roughly four minutes remaining.

GTD Pro: Corvette Racing Sweeps the Front Row

It was a banner day for Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports in the GTD Pro class. Alexander Sims, piloting the No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, claimed the class pole with a flying lap of 1m09.354s. The effort marks Sims’ fourth career pole and his first at the Detroit circuit.

“Firstly, it’s fantastic to get both Corvettes on the front row,” Sims noted. “The cars are working really quite well around here in Detroit. It’s awesome to be driving around these awesome bumpy, fun streets around the RenCen and in GM’s home city.”

Teammate Tommy Milner secured second place in the No. 4 machine, finishing just 0.043 seconds behind Sims. Vasser Sullivan’s Ben Barnicoat rounded out the top three in the No. 14 Lexus RC F GT3, trailing the leader by 0.309 seconds.

Key Takeaways for Race Day

• Home Turf Advantage: Both Cadillac and Corvette displayed significant pace in what serves as a home race for General Motors, with Pratt Miller Motorsports based in the local region.
• Tight Competition: The GTD Pro class remains exceptionally close, with the top two Corvettes separated by less than a tenth of a second.
• Challenging Circuit: The Detroit street course continues to test drivers with its signature bumps and tight corners, as evidenced by the high-pressure qualifying session.

Looking Ahead

The Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at 4:10 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live on NBC, with additional streaming options available via Peacock and the official IMSA channels. As the field of 21 cars prepares to navigate the split pit lane and the demands of the Detroit street circuit, the stage is set for a tactical battle for the overall win.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Classic held?
The race takes place on the downtown Detroit street circuit in Michigan.

How can I watch the race live?
The race will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 30, with streaming available on Peacock and IMSA’s official platforms.

What classes are competing this weekend?
The field features 21 cars split between the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) and Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) classes.