Rinicella Grabs Spa Pole for IDEC Sport

Valerio Rinicella continued his strong form from practice to secure pole position for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps European Le Mans Series contest.

The Genesis Trajectory Program driver set the pace in the dry FP1 on Friday and was unbeatable in qualifying as well to give IDEC Sport its first pole of the season.

Rinicella clocked a 2:01.268 relatively early in the 15-minute session, which was good enough for him to retain top spot at the wheel of the No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson with the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition entry second fastest on a 2:01.422 from Tom Dillmann.

Third fastest was the points-leading No. 22 United Autosports Oreca of Gregoire Saucy, who was fractionally slower than Dillmann on a 2:01.487.

Fourth was the second of the Inter Europol crews, the No. 34 machine of Reshad De Gerus that is third in the points, on a 2:01.682, while Jake Hughes was fifth having posted a 2:01.704 in the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca.

It was a disappointing session for reigning champion Esteban Masson, who could only manage sixth on a 2:01.845 in the No. 29 Forestier Racing by Panis entry that has previously taken two poles this season.

The second IDEC Sport car of Paul-Loup Chatin was looking quick early in the session before a Pouhon spin ruined his tires, forcing him to pit and causing him to plummet to 11th and last.

Giorgio Roda was on course to take Pro-Am pole throughout qualifying and duly delivered at the wheel of the Duqueine Team Oreca.

Roda clocked a 2:03.578 to take a third class pole from the four events so far this year, and ended up almost a second quicker than his rivals.

Second fastest in Pro-Am was the No. 3 DKR Engineering machine of Jean Glorieux with a 2:04.522, while third was the No. 7 Vector Sport Oreca of Jens Reno Moller, who triumphed in the class last time out at Imola, thanks to a 2:04.583.

R-ace GP Duqueine, Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Secure Poles

The sole Duqueine D09 Toyota of Pierre-Alexandre Provost claimed the LMP3 pole with an improvement on his final lap of the session.

Wyatt Brichacek in the No. 4 DKR Engineering Ligier JS P325 Toyota had appeared on course for pole but exceeded track limits on his last effort and therefore had to settle for a 2:12.473.

This opened the door to Provost in the R-ace GP Duqueine, who clocked a 2:12.186 on his final attempt to secure a second pole this year for the crew.

Third fastest was Louis Iglesias — who won on his debut last time out at Imola — in the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier with a 2:12.908.

Fourth went to the No. 8 Team Virage Ligier of Daniel Nogales and the top-five was rounded out by the No. 35 Ultimate Ligier of Sebastian Gravlund.

It was a tough session for the points-leading No. 5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier of Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen, who could only manage sixth.

Track-limits woe for the likely polesitter also settled the outcome in LMGT3 as Anthony McIntosh enjoyed a strong start to his return to Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo machinery by securing the pole with his final flying lap.

It had looked like points leader Blake McDonald would snare pole in the No. 33 TF Sport Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R having opted for slick tires from the start of a session held on a drying track.

McDonald was lapping significantly faster than the rest of the field but did not improve on his last effort after exceeding track limits at Raidillon and that opened the door to FIA World Endurance Championship BMW regular McIntosh to post a 2:20.206 in the No. 59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston.

McDonald therefore had to make do with second, finishing up six tenths of a second adrift, while the No. 62 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo of Abdulla Al-Khelaifi was third on a 2:21.166 having also started on slicks.

Fourth fastest was Custodio Toledo in the No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo on a 2:21.956 while Martin Berry ensured there were five different brands in the top-five after clocking a 2:22.791 in the No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.

The sister No. 75 Porsche that is just one point behind the Corvette crew in the standings ensured it will be an all-Porsche third row thanks to Matt Kurzejewski.

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is due to get under way at 1 p.m. CEST on Sunday (7 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Qualifying