
The 160-minute race got underway with Ross Gunn leading the GTD Pro field in the No. 23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3. He got away cleanly from Jack Hawksworth in the No. 14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 and Antonio Garcia in the Corvette Racing C8.R.
Mike Skeen, driving the No. 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 No. 70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 EVO. The two drivers made contact at the chicane, but Skeen held onto the lead.