24h Le Mans
This afternoon the #7 Audi R18 was the fastest of the qualifying session at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany. It is the second pole for Audi this year after Silverstone.
LM P, Audi for the second time this year
Audi's last pole position was at the beginning of the season at the Silverstone circuit in the U.K. Since then, nothing. Audi endured a difficult 24 Hours of Le Mans but is bouncing back with a 100% Audi front row (the #7 ahead of the #8). Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer were the fastest and gave Benoît Tréluyer a get-well gift of sorts since he is at home recuperating from an injury sustained during a bicycle outing. The two Porsche 919 Hybrids follow within the same second, then the two Toyotas a bit further back at more than a second.
In LM P2, G-Drive Racing's #26 Oreca 05 Nissan clocked the fastest time with René Rast, Roman Rusinov and Alex Brundle at the wheel. This is their fourth pole position in as many races this year. Exceptional! The Russian team is ahead of the #36 Alpine A460 - winner at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans - and the still-green #42 Gibson 015S Nissan though it is the oldest of the LM P2s.
LM GTE, first for Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin scored its first pole position in LM GTE Pro since the start of the season. The #95 driven by Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen was the fastest and the two men clocked that time in the very last seconds of the session.
The British car came in ahead of the first of the Ford GTs, the #66 driven by Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla. The third time was clocked by the second Aston Martin, the #97 driven by Richie Stanway and Darren Turner. The Vantages took a risk finishing out the session on slick tyres though it had been declared wet.
In LM GTE Am, the Porsches showed the advantage of being on their home turf. They clinched a one-two for the 991 RSRs, the #88 of Abu Dhabi–Proton Racing (Khaled Al Qubaisi, David Heinemeier Hansson and Patrick Long) ahead of KCMG's #78. This is the second pole position in this class for the #88 Porsche. The third time went to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. On the other hand, AF Corse's #83 Ferrari F458 Italia, the leader in the class, had a rough go of it, clocking the 10th time.
Tomorrow at the German circuit the battle is looking fierce in all the classes. The start will be given at 1:00 p.m. local time.
Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
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Photo: FIA WEC - Adrenal Media
