Rain, Lightning and Crashes Force Red Flags at VIR

Friday practice at Virginia International Raceway was halted by sudden storms and incidents, causing several cars to lose their fastest laps and altering qualifying prospects.

Overview

Pilot Challenge opening practice saw Kiko Porto set the early top time before a sudden downpour and multiple lightning strikes produced a nearly one-hour red flag and an extended restart.
The session restart produced wet-track incidents including Allen Patten’s Turn 1 crash, which means Patten’s entry must forfeit its fastest lap for qualifying under IMSA rules.
In GT/GTD Pro practice Fred Vervisch put the No. 65 Ford on top to give Ford a 1-2 showing while Neil Verhagen’s Paul Miller BMW crashed in Turn 14 and will lose its fastest qualifying time.
Koch-Copeland’s Jaxon Bell turned the quickest Pilot Challenge lap in the final practice while TCR pace moved from Karl Wittmer in the first session to LP Montour in the second, reflecting variable conditions.
Teams now head into Saturday qualifying with limited dry data, repaired cars and the immediate procedural penalties from practice red flags that will shape starting grids and early race strategy.