Audi made a stunning debut with its R18 TDIs. The Ingolstadt firm’s three cars set the three quickest times in qualifying for the 1000km of Spa‐Francorchamps.
Since the start of the week-end, the Le Mans Series’ teams have all been faced with interruptions of the practice sessions. In qualifying for the prototypes, the No. 15 OAK Racing Pescarolo had a heavy shunt with Matthieu Lahaye at the wheel. The red flag came out and the session was stopped with six minutes to go. The driver was conscious and was taken to hospital for more in‐depth exanimations that look positive, but the weekend is over for the team in no. 15.
The battle for pole on the Ardennes circuit raged between André Lotterer in the No. 2 R18 and Timo Bernhard in no. 1. Finally, the latter bagged pole with a time of 2m 01.512s before the session was interrupted.
ORECA took fourth place behind the Audis in 2m 05.482s and its 908 HDI FAP was the highest‐placed of the Peugeots. The leading works car was No.7 driven by Marc Gené in thirteenth spot as the 908s were obliged to slow down following the red flag.
Mathias Beche in the TDS Racing Oreca 03‐Nissan was the quickest for a long time until Danny Watts snatched pole in the Strakka Racing HPD ARX‐01d with a time of 2m 10.016s.
Ferrari continued to dominate in LM GTE Pro. Giancarlo Fisichella in the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia fought hard for pole until he was beaten by Jaime Melo in the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari F458, very much at home on the Belgian circuit.
Nicolas Armindo who set pole in LM GTE Am at Le Castellet doubled up at Spa. The Frenchman put his No. 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR on pole, and was in the same time bracket as the Pros.
Finally, Nicolas Marroc (Hope Racing) held pole for a long time in Formula Le Mans with a time of 2m 14.431s. Phil Keen (Neil Garner Motorsport) got close with a lap in 2m 14.752s and then beat the Hope Racing driver with a time of 2m 13.592s before the red flag came out.
Since the start of the week-end, the Le Mans Series’ teams have all been faced with interruptions of the practice sessions. In qualifying for the prototypes, the No. 15 OAK Racing Pescarolo had a heavy shunt with Matthieu Lahaye at the wheel. The red flag came out and the session was stopped with six minutes to go. The driver was conscious and was taken to hospital for more in‐depth exanimations that look positive, but the weekend is over for the team in no. 15.
The battle for pole on the Ardennes circuit raged between André Lotterer in the No. 2 R18 and Timo Bernhard in no. 1. Finally, the latter bagged pole with a time of 2m 01.512s before the session was interrupted.
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| Photo: Audi |
ORECA took fourth place behind the Audis in 2m 05.482s and its 908 HDI FAP was the highest‐placed of the Peugeots. The leading works car was No.7 driven by Marc Gené in thirteenth spot as the 908s were obliged to slow down following the red flag.
Mathias Beche in the TDS Racing Oreca 03‐Nissan was the quickest for a long time until Danny Watts snatched pole in the Strakka Racing HPD ARX‐01d with a time of 2m 10.016s.
Ferrari continued to dominate in LM GTE Pro. Giancarlo Fisichella in the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia fought hard for pole until he was beaten by Jaime Melo in the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari F458, very much at home on the Belgian circuit.
Nicolas Armindo who set pole in LM GTE Am at Le Castellet doubled up at Spa. The Frenchman put his No. 76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3 RSR on pole, and was in the same time bracket as the Pros.
Finally, Nicolas Marroc (Hope Racing) held pole for a long time in Formula Le Mans with a time of 2m 14.431s. Phil Keen (Neil Garner Motorsport) got close with a lap in 2m 14.752s and then beat the Hope Racing driver with a time of 2m 13.592s before the red flag came out.