Rigon, Bird Take GTE-Pro Pole in Mexico

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

AF Corse’s Sam Bird and Davide Rigon will start Sunday’s Six Hours of Mexico from the GTE-Pro, in a hard-fought qualifying session for the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The pairing combined for a best two-lap average of 1:39.425 in the No. 71 Ferrari 488 GTE, edging out the No. 95 Aston Martin Racing pairing of Marco Sorensen and Nicki Thiim by 0.109 seconds.

It marked Bird and Rigon’s second class pole of the season.

The pair of Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs qualified third and fourth, with the No. 97 Aston Martin completing the top-five.

Dempsey Proton Racing denied Aston Martin top qualifying honors in GTE-Am, thanks to a late flyer by Christian Ried.

Ried and Porsche Young Professional Matteo Cairoli combined for a 1:42.166 in their No. 77 Porsche 911 RSR to outpace the No. 98 Aston Martin of Paul Dalla Lana and Pedro Lamy by 0.042 seconds.

A slow opening lap by Lamy ultimately cost the pairing their fourth class pole of the season. 

The Six Hours of Mexico gets underway Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.

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