American Le Mans Series race fans in Baltimore didn’t expect this.

It took right to the end of the first practice session for an LMP1 machine to hit the top of the timesheets in the first practice at the Baltimore Grand Prix – knocking the giant-killing LMPC entries of Kyle Marcelli and Gunnar Jeannette off the top of the table.

The young guns bounced to the top of the timesheet with around 15 minutes to go – both Marcelli’s Intersport entry and Jeannette’s championship-leading CORE autosport machine gaining a clear lap as many of the opposition fought traffic.

Both the young Canadian and US stars have gained class poles and race wins this season, but neither expected to be at the head of the pack during the opening session on the new Baltimore street circuit.

In the GT ranks, Mid-Ohio winner Wolf Henzler bounced to the top of the times right at the end of the session – squeezing out the Corvette of Jan Magnussen and Oliver Gavin.

Championship leaders Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller were third fastest.

The cars will be back on track at 6:05pm tonight for another practice session before qualifying begins at 6:25pm

Click the PLAY button below to listen to Kyle Marcelli talking about his strong early pace at the Baltimore Grand Prix

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