Drayson Racing captured its second, consecutive American Le Mans Series (ALMS) pole position at Road America. With a lap of one-minute, 49.554 seconds over the 4.048-mile/6.51Km, 14-turn, Wisconsin facility, Jonny Cocker earned the team's second-career ALMS pole in decisive fashion. The No.8 Drayson Racing Lola Coupé with Judd Power dominated the Le Mans Prototype (LMP) qualifying taking the top spot by a remarkable 1.321 seconds over the field! Paul Drayson will start tomorrow's two-hour and 45-minute, multi-class race before handing over the British Racing Green, closed-cockpit racer to Cocker for the finish.
Through his commanding performance, Cocker became the first driver this year to take pole position more than once this season. Whilst other entries have won two pole positions, no one-driver has done so. Like the 6 August overall pole position at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, both of Drayson Racing's two quickest laps today would have placed the Dale White managed team first on the grid for Sunday's 14:05 (CT) start.
Despite the dominant performance in qualifying, Sunday's race at the picturesque circuit - considered among America's best race courses - promises to be heated. Whilst Drayson Racing is yet to win overall - the United Kingdom-based programme has a career-high, second-place finish scored earlier this year at Salt Lake City - the organisation has pressed the more veteran and manufacturer teams regularly throughout the year. Road America's long, front-straightaway and fast turns are a perfect match to the Lola-Judd's strengths and Paul Drayson and Jonny Cocker's driving styles. All combined; the car, engine and Michelin tyres work extremely well here and that has shown in the team's performance throughout practice and qualifying.
