Alessio Rovera, Davide Rigon and Alessandro Pier Guidi captured pole position in qualifying for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup title decider in Jeddah, while points leaders Comtoyou Racing qualified 18th.
The three drivers steered the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 to a combined lap of 1:59.396, outpacing the No. 163 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 by 0.181 seconds.
Rovera and Pier Guidi enter Saturday’s six-hour title decider at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit with an three-point deficit to Comtoyou Racing trio Mattia Drudi, Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen.
Crucially, however, the No. 7 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo struggled throughout the three-part session, qualifying 18th and 0.883 seconds down on pole.
The No. 99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II of Ricardo Feller, Christopher Haase and Alex Aka, which enters the finale level on points with AF Corse, captured third overall.
This was thanks in part to Feller, who set the fastest outright time of 1:59.000 during the third and final segment.
Laurin Heinrich, Ayhancan Guven and Dorian Boccolacci took fourth in the No. 22 Schumacher CLRT Porsche 911 GT3 R, ahead of the No. 63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini in fifth.
Maro Engel, Lucas Auer and Daniel Morad join them on the third row aboard the No. 48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, with the No. 188 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in seventh.
The No. 2 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed machine, repaired after Friday night’s brush with the barriers, slotted into eighth in the hands of Fabian Schiller, Jules Gounon and Luca Stolz.
Silver Cup pole went to the No. 26 Sainteloc Racing Audi in ninth overall, while the No. 111 CSA Racing Audi completed the overall top ten and led the Gold Cup ranks.
Bronze Cup pole went to the No. 97 Rutronik Racing Porsche piloted by Dustin Blattner, Loek Hartog and Dennis Marschall, which will line up in 17th overall.
The 6 Hours of Jeddah starts at 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EDT).
RESULTS: Qualifying (combined)