Kasemets Leads Atlantic Friday Practice
Wampum, PA – Tonis Kasemets set the fastest time across both Atlantic Championship Series practice sessions on Friday at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. With practice in the books, it's now on to the season finale weekend, featuring rounds 13 and 14 of the 2015 season.
In the morning session, Championship points leader Keith Grant and veteran Atlantic driver Tonis Kasemets traded fast laps back and forth for the duration of the 30-minute practice session.
Kasemets, driving the No. 47 usually occupied by Keyvan Andres, came out on top, with a quick lap of 1:32.848 for K-Hill Motorsports, while Grant’s fast lap from the morning checked in at 1:33.204.
Grant comes into the weekend with a large Championship points lead, and easily swept the Pittsburgh weekend in August, winning both races. A decent result in race one on Saturday should clinch Grant the 2015 title for Polestar Racing Group.
Sitting second in the points, Conner Kearby was third fast in the morning, followed by his K-Hill teammate Garth Rickards. Comprent’s Richard Zober completed the top five, making it an all Swift 016/Mazda first five. Connor Burke’s Swift 014/Toyota was sixth fastest in his pro debut at Pittsburgh, with a lap of 1:37.699.
A few hours later, Kasemets lowered his time late in the session for fastest lap of the day with a 1:32.771, again ahead of Keith Grant, who was also on pace with a solid lap at 1:32.901, improving a few tenths from his morning time.
Conner Kearby matched his morning result, running to a third quickest time at 1:33.960, and remains mathematically eligible for the Championship.
Rickards and his No.83 K-Hill Swift 016/Mazda were fourth quick at 1:32.014, while Connor Burke improved significantly from the morning session for fifth fastest with a quick time of 1:34.331 for Company Motorsports.
Zober followed in sixth, with Matt Miller and his Swift 016/Honda in seventh while Bob Corliss and his No. 17 Swift 014/Toyota was eighth for Comprent.
Gaston Kearby and John Burke completed the top ten.
Full results are available on www.AtlanticChampionshipSeries.com under the Results tab.
The weekend to conclude the 2015 14-race Atlantic season continues on Saturday with morning qualifying and an afternoon race. Sunday closes out the year, with a similar schedule and Sunday night awards party.