Bird, Rigon on GTE-Pro Pole at COTA

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

AF Corse’s Sam Bird and Davide Rigon will start Saturday’s Six Hours of Circuit of The Americas from the GTE-Pro class pole, after taking their second consecutive top qualifying run in FIA World Endurance Championship competition.

The pairing combined for a best two-lap average of 2:03.057 in the No. 71 Ferrari 488 GTE for their third class pole of the season, edging out the No. 67 Ford GT of Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx by 0.199 seconds.

The Mexico class-winning No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE of Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen will line up third in class, ahead of the James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi-driven No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari in fourth.

The No. 66 Ford of Olivier Pla and Stefan Muecke completed the top-five. 

GTE-Am saw the No. 98 Aston Martin of Paul Dalla Lana and Pedro Lamy score their fourth class pole of the season, thanks to a 2:06.031 lap average.

The pairing, who will share driving duties with Mathias Lauda, edged out the No. 54 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE, qualified by Thomas Flor and Miguel Molina.

The Six Hours of Circuit of The Americas is set for 12 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