​Jeremy Clarke captured pole for the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, delivering a blistering performance in his Inter Europol Competition’s #43 ORECA LMP2 07. The 10-turn, 2.459-mile natural terrain road course roared as Clarke edged to a 1m07.904s flying lap, securing Clarke’s fourth career pole and his first at the track universally known as Mosport. Clarke called the run fantastic, praising the car and the team’s hard work in getting the setup to perfection: “That was so fun. The car was amazing. These guys worked so hard to get that car set up, and it was flawless.”
In a tense, high-speed battle behind Clarke, Misha Goikhberg, piloting the #52 machine for Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen, claimed second place by just 0.173 seconds. AO Racing’s PJ Hyett followed in the #99, a mere 0.282 seconds off the pole. Hyett initially set the early benchmark with a 1m08.376s lap, only to see Clarke topple that time with a scintillating 1m08.224s effort with eight minutes remaining. The duel intensified as Hyett countered with a 1m08.186s lap, but Goikhberg joined the chase by slotting into P2 at 1m08.195s.
Goikhberg then pitted for a fresh set of tires, while Hyett continued pushing with strong opening sectors but could not convert them into a top lap to reclaim the top spot. As the session wound down, Clarke surged back to first with under two minutes left, clocking a 1m08.019s, with Goikhberg moving into second at 1m08.077s. When the clock reached zero, Clarke’s final, fastest lap of 1m07.904s sealed him as the provisional pole winner for the event.
Across Bowmanville, Canada, the excitement extended to the GTD Pro class, where Neil Verhagen’s pole-winning performance in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 Evo for Paul Miller Racing stood out. Verhagen posted a stout 1m14.382s lap with just under two minutes remaining, establishing a lead that held as the session concluded. Verhagen’s effort marked his second consecutive pole at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, underscoring a strong affinity for the track’s high-speed sections and demanding turns.
Verhagen’s time made a bold statement, as he rode the crest of a late-session surge to outpace the competition by nearly half a second. After a near miss in practice, Verhagen described the track’s appeal: the high-speed demands and the overall commitment required create a fantastic driving challenge. He credited the Paul Miller Racing crew with delivering a car that could maximize the track’s characteristics, noting how the vehicle’s performance improved noticeably from practice to qualifying.
Two-time pole position at Mosport signals a growing comfort and confidence for Verhagen on this circuit, echoing his earlier success and reinforcing his reputation for extracting strong speed when it matters most. He highlighted a small scare in Turn 3 during his opening run, which he says only amplified his excitement for the challenge ahead. The BMW M4 GT3 Evo, run by Paul Miller Racing, appeared to be a formidable package, combining power, balance, and consistency to help Verhagen secure the top spot in GTD Pro.
Meanwhile, Max Esterson drove a strong showing for RLL Team McLaren in the #59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, finishing a close second in the GTD Pro category with a time just 0.185 seconds off Verhagen’s pole laps. The competition in GTD Pro remained tight, with teams leveraging every last tenth to gain an edge as the session closed and the grid prepared to race for pole and starting position.
In addition to the on-track action, fans and teams turned their attention to the strategic elements of the race weekend, including tire choices, fuel strategies, and the evolving balance of performance across the rapidly changing track conditions. The event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park delivered a blend of precision driving, aggressive lap times, and tactical decisions that will shape the race’s start and the potential for exciting overtakes throughout the Grand Prix.
As the lights go out and the green flag waves, the pole sitters—Clarke in LMP2 with his late-brush lap at the Mosport course and Verhagen in GTD Pro—will be watched closely by rivals who are eager to challenge their positions. The qualifying session’s results set the stage for a dramatic race, with drivers looking to convert pole positions into triumphs on a track celebrated for its high-speed straights, sweeping turns, and natural terrain challenges.