Kaffer Puts Black Pearl Racing by Rinaldi on Mugello Pole

Black Pearl Racing by Rinaldi will start the Hankook 12H Italy-Mugello from pole position after setting the fastest lap in today’s qualifying session.

Pierre Kaffer, driving the No. 66 Ferrari 458 Italia, set the fastest lap in the final moments of the qualifying session.

Unlike the Dubai 24 Hours, the qualifying for the second round of the 24H Series did not have separate class qualifying, just a single 45-minute session for all participating teams.

Tom Onslow-Cole was the first driver into the 1:49s in qualifying, the Mercedes driver setting a 1:49.447 with just under ten minutes remaining in the session.

After a brief Code 60 period the green flag was shown again with two minutes left. Several drivers went for one final fast lap and just when it looked as if Ram Racing was going to get pole, Kaffer went a full second quicker, setting a 1:48.024.

“After the Code 60 at the end, I thought it would be difficult because there was only a few minutes left,” Kaffer told Radio Le Mans after the session.

“I had quite a clear gap in front of the cars which I had to overtake though, so I was able to take pole.”

Matteo Malucelli qualified the No. 4 Scuderia Praha in second place, followed by the Ram Racing Mercedes of Onslow-Cole.

RESULTS: Qualifying