Audi Locks Out Front Row for 6H COTA

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Audi has swept the front row for Saturday’s FIA WEC Six Hours of Circuit of The Americas, with Andre Lotterer and Marcel Fassler scoring their second pole in the last three races, and third in a row for the German manufacturer.

Lotterer and Fassler combined for a best two-lap average of 1:45.842 in the 20-minute session, edging out teammates Oliver Jarvis and Lucas Di Grassi by 0.141 seconds.

As has been the case so far this weekend, the pair of Audi R18s dominated the time charts, with the diesel-powered LMP1 hybrids more than seven-tenths ahead in qualifying, which was marred by numerous track limits violations.

Benoit Treluyer, returning to the cockpit after a back injury, will rejoin Lotterer and Fassler in tomorrow’s sixth round of the season.

The No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid of defending World Champions Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard qualified third, ahead of the No. 6 Toyota TS050 Hybrid, qualified by Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway, in fourth.

Romain Dumas and Neel Jani completed the top-five in the championship-leading No. 2 Porsche, after Dumas lost his best lap time late due to track limits.

LMP2 points leaders Signatech-Alpine scored its first class pole of the season, thanks to Nicolas Lapierre and American Gustavo Menezes’ 1:55.892 average in their No. 36 Alpine A460 Nissan.

The No. 44 Manor Oreca 05 Nissan qualified second in class, with the Mexico class-winning No. 43 RGR Sport Ligier JS P2 Nissan third, after the No. 26 G-Drive Racing Oreca Nissan’s times were deleted, also for exceeding track limits.

LMP1 Privateer pole honors went to the No. 13 Rebellion R-One, which qualified seventh overall.

The Six Hours of Circuit of The Americas is set to get underway at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday.

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