The GT battle here at Road America was looking like an SRT Viper show for most of the day before BMW young star John Edwards spoiled the party late in the second session this afternoon.

Despite only running a part-time schedule for BMW while filling in for Joey Hand, Edwards’ star has shone bright in 2013. The American driver scored the pole and won with Dirk Muller at Lime Rock Park.

Edwards pulled out a surprise time right at the end of the second session today to stop the clocks at 2:04.711 to push the Viper of Marc Goosens and Dominik Farnbacher back to second place.

The young star is a busy man this weekend – also driving for Stevenson Motorsports in GRAND-AM Rolex Series competition where he and Robin Liddell are only four points off the championship lead in GT.

The second Viper of Jonathan Bomarito and Kuno Wittmer was third fastest today in GT.

In the P1 ranks, Lucas Luhr was fastest overall while Simon Pagenaud showed he has lost none of his sportscar speed while winning in IndyCar with the fastest time in the P2 class.

The ESM HPD of Scott Sharp and Guy Cosmo was fastest in the morning session but had to undertake a precautionary engine change and missed the afternoon.

Qualifying for this weekend’s Orion Energy Systems 245 at Road American kicks off at 9:40am tomorrow.