The 160-minute race got underway with Ross Gunn leading the GTD Pro field in the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
He got away cleanly from Jack Hawksworth in the #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 and Antonio Garcia in the Corvette Racing C8.R.
Mike Skeen, driving the #32 Korthoff Motorsports Mercedes AMG GT3, led the non-Pro class to the green flag, but faced an immediate challenge from Frederik Schandorff in the #70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 EVO. The two drivers made contact at the chicane, but Skeen held onto the lead.
GTD points leader Madison Snow started deep in the field, but managed to make up three positions on the start in the #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4 GT3.
Gunn remained firmly in control of the GTD Pro class as the first pit cycle began, but ended up behind both Hawksworth and Garcia.
The first full-course caution came after a major shunt in Turn 1, nearly 30 minutes into the race. Alan Metni, driving the #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R, made an overtake into the first corner but completely overshot the braking point.
He ended up slamming into the back of Jarett Andretti’s #94 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, sending both drivers off the course.
Metni limped his wounded machine back to the pits while Andretti came to a halt against the tire barrier, forcing a FCY.
Many drivers took the opportunity to pit during the yellow-flag period, and Gunn regained control of the race. He then quickly pulled away, holding an advantage of over six seconds at one point.
But in GTD, the order had changed a bit with Snow now leading the way. Unfortunately, they would face a major setback as the team was hit with a drivethrough penalty for contact in the pits, taking them out of contention.
The #27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 with Roman De Angelis moved into the lead. The organisation was now in control of both classes with the #23 and #27 Astons.
Source: Autosport