QUALIFYING: Roda Takes Double Pole in Abu Dhabi
CLX Motorsport Takes Six Poles from Six in LMP3 and Getspeed Claim 1-2 for Abu Dhabi Races
For the fourth and fifth times this year the no5 United Autosports Oreca-Gibson will start at the front of the grid after Giorgio Roda secured the two fastest times of the 15-minute session.
The session was Red Flagged after seven and a half minutes when the no47 Cetilar Racing Oreca spun at the last corner, with Championship leader Roberto Lacorte stranded on the track in a dangerous position. Lacorte was able to recover the car to the pits but the car will have to start at the back of the LMP2 field for both races, hampering their championship aspirations.
At the restart Roda then posted a 1m42.261 and then a 1m42.179 lap to secure pole position, 0.484s ahead of the rest of the field headed by the no49 High Class Racing of Jens Reno Moller, the Dane’s best lap of 1m42.663, pushing the no20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca of John Falb onto Row 2 for this afternoon’s race. Falb’s second best lap will put him on the front row for tomorrow’s race.
Double race winner George Kurtz will start this afternoon’s race in 4th in the no4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR Oreca, 0.836s behind Roda’s best time. Row 3 will consist of the no43 Inter Europol Competition and the no25 Algarve Pro Racing Orecas.
CLICK HERE for the result from LMP2 Qualifying for Race 1
CLICK HERE for the result from LMP2 Qualifying for Race 2
LMP3: Six from Six for Paul Lanchere and CLX Motorsport
Paul Lanchere claimed another two pole positions in Abu Dhabi and makes it six poles from six attempts this season. The French driver dominated the session with a 1m51.440 best lap to claim pole in Race 1 this afternoon and a 1m51.450 to take pole in race 2 tomorrow.
The rest of the field were left fighting over the other positions, with Romain Vozniak claiming the front row start for Race 1 with a 1m51.555, 0.115s behind Lanchere’s best lap. Alex Bukhantsov will start in P3 this afternoon in the no13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier but moves up one place to P2 for Sunday’s race.
Dubai race winner Terrence Woodward will start on Row 2 alongside Bukhantsov this afternoon in the no71 23Events Racing Ligier, his 1m52.120 lap 0.680s behind the pole sitter.
CLICK HERE for the result from LMP3 Qualifying for Race 1
CLICK HERE for the result from LMP3 Qualifying for Race 2
GT: Getspeed 1-2 for Final Two Races in Abu Dhabi
Steve Jans claimed a double pole for the final two races in Abu Dhabi, the German posting a best lap of 1m53.307 in the no9 Getspeed Mercedes-AMG GT3, with a second-best lap of 1m53.399 to take pole for Sunday’s finale.
The no37 QMMF by Getspeed Mercedes-AMG will start from the front row after Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi made a determined bid for pole, but ultimately finishing the session just 0.075s behind his teammate.
The no56 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin will start on Row 2 after Giacomo Petrobelli posted a 1m53.559 lap, 0.252s behind the lead Mercedes-AMG and 0.277s ahead of the championship leading no74 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Dustin Scott Blattner.
Row 3 is a Team WRT lockout with the no69 BMW M4 driven by Tony McIntosh finishing ahead of his teammate Rinat Salikhov in the no28 BMW by just 0.053s.
CLICK HERE for the result from GT Qualifying for Race 1
CLICK HERE for the result from GT Qualifying for Race 2
The first 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi will take place at 15h00 GST / 12h00 CET today
