All three Fall–Line Motorsport BMW M3 will start from inside the top ten for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Drivers Al Carter, Mark Boden and Brett Sandberg were given the responsibility of qualifying the #48, #45 and #46 entries respectively for the two hour, 30 minute race at the Austin track, the new home of Formula One in the US.
Sandberg led the trio on the timesheets. In the Beverage Flavors International sponsored car he was a factor in the battle for pole position early in the 15 minute session but with a best time eight tenths slower than that which secured pole position. The time in question – 2:21.664 – means that he and Charles Espenlaub will start from fifth place.
“The car was good in qualifying. It was a tad bit loose, but manageable,” said Sandberg. “The car was fast; we probably had a pole lap but on the last lap I got caught up behind another car, which really hurt us. I really think I could have put the car on pole had I been able to finish that lap. Overall we are happy to be starting fifth and we have a good car for the race and I am excited for what tomorrow brings.”
Despite complaining of a slick track in the afternoon heat Carter lapped two tenths slower than Sandberg to secure sixth place to complete the third row of the grid beside his teammate.
Boden completed the sound qualifying for Fall-Line, putting the #45 he will share with Bryan Sellers ninth fastest, two seconds off the pole time set by Multimatic Motorsports driver Jade Buford.
“Great track, a little bit trying with cars of this weight. But the Trim-Tex M3 was good; we’re really making a lot of progress,” said Boden. “I think we’ll have a really good racecar. I’m so proud of the whole Fall-Line group, three cars in the top-10 is a big accomplishment and I’m really looking forward to a good race tomorrow.”
