The Kiwi ace peaked on a 1m24.459s before handing over to teammate Timo Bernhard who consolidated the pole with an average lap time of 1m24.562s. It will be a Porsche front row as André Lotterer and Nick Tandy combined to achieve the German marque's first front row of the season. 

Toyota will start the 6 Hours of Mexico presented by AT&T in third and fourth positions, while in LMP2 the Signatech Alpine pair of Andre Negrao and Nicolas Lapierre ensured Les Bleues' first pole of the season.

The headlines from LMP Qualifying...

• Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard combined to take pole position in the No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid 
• The Kiwi/German axis set an average of 1m24.562s to claim their first pole of the 2017 season
• Nick Tandy and Andre Lotterer join the No.2 Porsche on the front row and set an average time just 0.148s behind their stablemates
• Toyota line up third and fourth with No.7 ahead of No.8 TS 0505 HYBRID
• LMP2 pole taken by Signatech Alpine of Andre Negrao and Nicolas Lapierre
• Les Bleues confirm their first pole of 2017 season as average of 1m32.809s is 0.3s clear of opposition
• Late time by Ho-Pin Tung pushes up No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing car to second position on grid. Thomas Laurent also qualified
• Bruno Senna and Julien Canal complete top three in LMP2 class

Ferrari lead thrilling GT qualifying for pole in Mexico

A tense and extremely close GT qualifying session at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez saw Ferrari’s Sam Bird and Davide Rigon take pole position in LMGTE Pro for tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Mexico Presented by AT&T.  The British/Italian duo combined in the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE to set a fastest average time of 1:39.425. 

Taking the top spot in LMGTE Am was the No.77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR driven by Christian Ried and Matteo Cairoli. The experienced German and young Porsche Junior factory driver just had the edge over their nearest rivals in a session which was completed in full, dry conditions. 

• Sam Bird sets outright fastest lap of 1m39.162s in No.71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE. 
• Bird and teammate Davide Rigon set an average lap time of 1m39.425s to take second pole position of the season
• No.95 Aston Martin join Ferrari on front row as Marco Sorensen and Nicki Thiim place second just 0.109s behind 
• Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell claim third in LMGTE Pro as they combine to set a 1m39.640s time to make it three different manufacturers in leading positions
• Just 0.8s cover the whole LMGTE Pro field 
• Dempsey Proton Porsche 911 RSR grabs pole position as Matteo Cairoli and Christian Ried set average of 1m42.056s
• Late challenge by Aston Martin Racing’s Pedro Lamy just falls short by 0.042s

Tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Mexico, the fifth round of the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship, will start at 12 noon (local time).

- FIA WEC press release -

Results

Photo (Marcel Langer / FIA WEC): Porsche polemen Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard with teammate Earl Bamber.