Aston Martin Sweeps GTE Qualifying in Mexico

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Aston Martin Racing has swept GTE qualifying for Saturday’s inaugural Six Hours of Mexico presented by AT&T, with the British manufacturer locking out the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am classes.

Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen claimed their second consecutive FIA World Endurance Championship pole, with the pairing combining for a best two-lap average of 1:40.458.

The No. 95 Aston Martin was 0.142 seconds quicker than the sister No. 97 Aston of Darren Turner and Richie Stanaway, in what’s been a dominant run for the brand so far this weekend.

James Calado and Gianrmaria Bruni was third in the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE, although more than a half-second down on the normally-aspirated Astons.

The No. 77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen, and the No, 71 AF Corse Ferrari completed the top-five in GTE-Pro.

Both of the Ford GTs struggled in the 20-minute session, with Olivier Pla and Stefan Muecke qualifying sixth and Andy Priaulx spinning and making light contact with the wall in the No. 67 Ford.

It will roll off seventh on the grid with Priaulx and co-drivers Harry Tincknell and Marino Franchitti.

AMR’s Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana scored their third class pole of the season in GTE-Am, in the first race with the car on Michelin tires.

Lamy and Dalla Lana combined for a 1:42.437 average in the No. 98 Aston Martin Vantage for the first Aston Martin class qualifying sweep of the season.

The pairing will share driving duties with Mathias Lauda in Saturday’s race.

The No. 88 Abu Dhabi Proton Racing Porsche qualified second in class, ahead of the similar Porsches from Gulf Racing and KCMG.

The Six Hours of Mexico presented by AT&T gets underway Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT with live coverage on FOX Sports 2.

RESULTS: Qualifying

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John