Lietz, Makowiecki Take GTE-Pro Pole at Fuji

Photo: Porsche

Porsche will start Sunday’s Six Hours of Fuji from the pole in GTE-Pro, with the mid-engined 911 RSR showing its strength in wet conditions in Japan.

Richard Lietz and Fred Makowiecki combined for a best two-lap average of 1:47.577 in the championship-contending No. 91 Porsche.

The pairing edged out the No. 67 Ford GT of Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx by 0.441 seconds, despite Priaulx returning to the wheel of the Ford in an effort to improve his time.

It marked the German manufacturer’s second class pole of the season and first for the No. 91 pairing.

The No. 67 Ford of Olivier Pla and Stefan Muecke will start third in class, ahead of the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE of Sam Bird and Davide Rigon, which like the sister No. 51 Ferrari, tried switching to Michelin intermediate tires, but was unable to make it work in the challenging conditions.

Clearwater Racing’s Weng Mok Sun and Matt Griffin, meanwhile, claimed pole in GTE-Am, thanks to the pairing’s 1:49.408 in the No. 61 Ferrari.

Sun and Griffin edged out the class championship-leading No. 77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche, qualified by Matteo Cairoli and Christian Ried, by more than four-tenths.

Sun and Griffin will be joined by Japanese driver Keita Sawa in tomorrow’s seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season, which is expected to feature heavy rain.

The race is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. local time.

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