Mercedes-AMG Drivers Felt LMGT3 Pole was Possible

Photo Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG drivers Lorcan Hanafin and Lin Hodenius were disappointed to miss out on LMGT3 pole for the FIA World Endurance Championship season finale in Bahrain, despite recording their best qualifying results of the year.

Both of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo entries made Hyperpole for the first time, with the Sakhir track suiting the car’s characteristics.

But they will line up second and third on the grid after both drivers said they failed to quite extract the maximum performance from the car, as the brand seeks its first WEC podium in Saturday’s eight-hour race.

“I was up on my second lap and my foot actually slipped off the brake pedal at the last corner so maybe pole was in there – it’s a woulda, coulda, shoulda scenario,” Hanafin, who pipped Hodenius by 0.03 seconds.

“I think it’s a big relief for everyone at Iron Lynx and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. Obviously, it’s been a tricky season.

“The car’s been getting there slowly by slowly. I feel like from Fuji we’ve been competitive, but things just didn’t fall our way.

“And then to come here to Bahrain for one of the toughest races of the season to be P2 and P3, best result of the season, it’s a nice feeling.”

As well as the Bahrain circuit favouring the front-engined LMGT3 machinery, Hanafin added the way the Mercedes-AMG cars look after their tires is also crucial to the upturn in fortunes.

“One of the strengths of the Merc is it’s light on tires and I think that will pay dividends in the race, especially when we have to double- or triple-stint the tires,” he said. “It’s a long race so will see what we can do.”

Hodenius described the qualifying result as a “boost” going into next season, but was also disappointed not to land a first pole for the German manufacturer.

“For sure getting P3 is a very nice feeling to give it back to the team,” he told Sportscar365. “I had a job to deliver, it’s a shame it wasn’t P1. It was definitely in the lap – it was possible, so that’s why I’m bummed about it a bit.

“Of course, as a racing driver, you want the maximum always. P3’s not a bad result but P1 was possible.”

Hodenius believes it is possible to now fight for the victory in the season finale, adding: “We’re going to shoot for the stars and see where we end up.”