Pourchaire on Pole After Imola Thunderstorm

Theo Pourchaire claimed pole position for Algarve Pro Racing in qualifying at the 4 Hours of Imola, which was interrupted by a massive rainstorm.

A torrential downpour that began during the LMP3 session left a significant quantity of standing water on the track surface and delayed proceedings by over an hour while the safety car logged laps to assess the river-like conditions.

By the time the LMP2 class runners were unleashed, the track was notably drying and times tumbled as drivers sought out damp patches to cool their tires.

Several teams toyed with switching to slicks during a red flag caused by Tristan Vautier’s CLX – Pure Rxcing Oreca 07 Gibson understeering into the barriers at Tosa.

Pourchaire had headed the timesheets prior to the stoppage, with less than three minutes on the clock, but his 1:44.129 time was immediately bettered after the resumption.

However, the Frenchman was one of the last cars to cross the line and made the most of the improving track conditions to blitz the field by 0.971 seconds with a 1:37.919 lap.

Luca Ghiotto ended up second in the No. 34 Inter Europol Oreca, which had briefly held provisional pole by 0.549 seconds before Pourchaire’s statement time.

Maceo Capietto had to settle for third in the No. 9 No. 9 Iron Lynx-Proton Oreca, ahead of Ghiotto’s teammate Nick Yelloly and the No. 30 Duqueine example of Reshad de Gerus.

Giorgio Roda set a searing pace to secure LMP2 Pro-Am pole, the Proton Competition driver lapping almost three seconds clear of his fellow bronze-graded drivers on the fully wet track.

The Italian’s No. 77 Oreca 07 Gibson was 2.936 seconds faster than PJ Hyett’s No. 99 AO by TF machine when a spin for Nielsen Racing’s Tony Wells at Acque Minerale brought out red flags with less than two minutes on the clock. The session was not resumed.

Georgios Kolovos was third fastest for DKR Engineering, ahead of Wells and Rodrigo Sales (TDS Racing).

CLX Paces LMP3, Mercedes-AMG Fastest in LMGT3

The CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 Toyota continued its perfect qualifying record in LMP3, as worsening rain prevented any improvements beyond the first timed lap on slick tires.

Theodor Jensen took over qualifying duties from Adrien Closmenil, who had set the pace at Barcelona and Paul Ricard, but the result was the same as the Dane stormed to the top spot with a 1:45.844 lap.

That left him 0.755 seconds clear of Ian Aguilera’s No. 11 Eurointernational Ligier, which promptly demonstrated how conditions were deteriorating by visiting the gravel at the Villeneuve chicane.

Nobody could improve after switching to wet tires, cementing third for M Racing’s Ligier driven by Quentin Antonel and fourth for the Ginetta G61-LT-P325-EVO Toyota driven by Mikkel Garrde Pedersen.

Four different brands occupied the top four positions in the LMGT3 session, which was also disrupted by red flags when Custodio Toledo found the gravel at Piratella.

Martin Berry set the fastest time aboard his No. 63 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3, his second pole from three ELMS rounds this year, with a 1:43.799 lap before the stoppage that none of his rivals could better thereafter.

Clement Mateu came closest in his Racing Spirit of Leman Vantage GT3 Evo, but despite improving on his final tour fell 0.127 seconds short of Berry’s effort in a session held on a dry road.

Celia Martin’s No. 85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R will start third, pending the outcome of an investigation for a pit exit red light infringement, ahead of Takeshi Kimura’s No. 57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296.

Toledo’s No. 50 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari was not permitted to rejoin the session, but his earlier time was good enough for fifth.

The 4 Hours of Imola gets underway Sunday at 12 p.m. CEST.

RESULTS: Qualifying