Rigon, Bird Take GTE-Pro at Spa

Davide Rigon and Sam Bird took GTE-Pro class pole for AF Corse on Friday ahead of tomorrow’s FIA World Endurance Championship Six Hours of Spa.

The Ferrari drivers combined for a best two-lap average of 2:15.017 in their No. 71 Ferrari 488 GTE car, 0.401 seconds ahead of the No. 66 Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT of Stefan Muecke and Olivier Pla.

Muecke relegated the sister No. 67 Ford of Harry Tincknell and Andy Priaulx to third as the 25-minute qualifying session came to an end.

Both Fords were sandwiched by the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari of Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado in fourth (+0.748s), followed by both Porsche 911 RSRs in fifth and sixth, that were almost two seconds of the pace.

Aston Martin Racing suffered an even bigger lack of pace and will line up last in class with its two Vantage GTEs, both the No. 95 and No. 97 entries were more than two seconds slower than the No. 71 Ferrari.

Aston Martin Racing did manage to secure the GTE-Am class pole, however, with Paul Dalla Lana and Pedro Lamy setting an average lap time of 2:18.659 in the No. 98 Aston Martin.

A late flyer by Lamy, who had his initial lap time deleted for track limits, put the Vantage GTE ahead of the Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Matteo Cairoli and Christian Ried, while the Clearwater Racing that won at Silverstone qualified last.

It was the Portuguese driver’s record-extending 15th career WEC pole.

The WEC Six Hours of Spa is set for a 2:30 p.m. local time start (8:30 a.m. ET) with live coverage on FS1.

RESULTS: Qualifying