Derani Takes 4H Shanghai Pole

Photo: MPS Agency

Pipo Derani put the Spirit of Race Ligier JS P2 Nissan on pole for Sunday’s Asian Le Mans Series opener in Shanghai.

The Brazilian driver clocked a time of 1:55.476 to go four tenths quicker than Harrison Newey in the Algarve Pro Racing Judd-powered Ligier.

Derani, who took one pole in Asian LMS last season, will share driving duties in China with Come Ledogar and Alexander West.

Third on the grid for the Four Hours of Shanghai will be the No. 22 United Autosports Ligier in which Phil Hanson posted a 1:56.230.

The Englishman will line up alongside FIA World Endurance Championship racer Jazeman Jaafar in the Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota Oreca 05 Nissan on row two.

Fifth in qualifying was Guy Cosmo in United’s sister No. 23 Ligier, while Matthieu Lahaye qualified sixth for Panis-Barthez Competition.

In LMP3, Jakub Smiechowski gave Inter Europol Competition the pole on its Asian LMS debut with a time of 1:59.771.

The Polish driver’s effort in the No. 13 Ligier JSP3 Nissan dipped just 0.187 seconds under the time set by Nigel Moore in the Viper Niza Racing Ligier.

They will start ahead of a second row filled by the two United Autosports Ligiers, qualified by Wayne Boyd and Matt Bell respectively.

Pole position in the GT class went to Dries Vanthoor, who put the No. 88 Tianshi Racing Team Audi R8 LMS GT3 on top with a 2:02.603.

Second went to James Calado in the CarGuy Racing Ferrari 488 GT3, who eclipsed WEC co-driver Alessandro Pier Guidi by less than a tenth of a second.

Following a fire during Thursday’s pre-season test, the No. 66 Tianshi Racing Audi has been replaced by a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for the remainder of the event.

Max Wiser qualified the car fourth in GT with a time of 2:05.752.

The Four Hours of Shanghai gets underway on Sunday, Nov. 25. at 9:30 a.m local time (Saturday, 8.30 p.m eastern).

RESULTS: Qualifying