28.04.2023 - 17h00
Kobayashi takes pole for Toyota Gazoo Racing; United Autosports on top in LMP2; LMGTE pole falls to ORT by TF Sport
Below are the main headlines from the qualifying session at today’s TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, round three of the FIA WEC.
Hypercar: Pole – No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing
- Antonio Giovinazzi in No.51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P had taken brilliant pole position with pole lap of 2m00.77s
- Giovinazzi survived spin at La Source midway through the session to take second pole for Ferrari this season.
- No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing entry driven by Kamui Kobayashi inherits pole with a 2m00.812s lap after Giovinazzi penalty for track limit violation at T7.
- Giovinazzi slips to third behind No.50 Ferrari AF Corse driven by Miguel Molina places second.
- No.2 Cadillac V-Series.R entry driven by Earl Bamber is fourth ahead of sister No.3 Cadillac qualified by Sebastien Bourdais
- Sixth is the No.6 Porsche Penske 963 driven by Kevin Estre.
- Hertz Team Jota Porsche 963 with Will Stevens aboard sets seventh best time on WEC debut for gold car.
- Oliver Pla in Glickenhaus Racing place grabs eighth and is best placed non-Hybrid Hypercar.
- The No.93 Peugeot 9X8 of Jean-Eric Vergne qualifies in ninth ahead of the No.5 Porsche 963 Hypercar of Frederic Makowiecki.
- No.94 Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar with Gustavo Menezes is 11th ahead of the Floyd Vanwall entry driven by Tom Dillmann in 12th
- No.8 Toyota GR010 does not post a time as Brendon Hartley crashes at Raidillon on preparation lap.
- Points leaders will now have to start from rear of Hypercar grid for TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa tomorrow
Here are the full grids for tomorrow's race
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) April 28, 2023
HYPERCAR The #7 Toyota inherits pole with a 2:00.812 lap after Giovinazzi gets fastest lap deleted for track limit violation. #WEC #6HSpa pic.twitter.com/ZuOGiIZVHp
LMP2: Pole - No.23 United Autosports
- No.23 United Autosports claims pole position as returning Tom Blomqvist stars with a rapid 2m05.979s best.
- British driver is yet to drive in a race this season after Sebring retirement and missing Portimao for IMSA race.
- Second on grid will be the No.41 WRT Oreca-Gibson as Louis Deletraz gets to within 0.3s of Blomqvist's ultimate pace.
- Prema Racing third with No.63 car with Daniil Kvyat setting time.
- No.31 WRT starts fourth as Robin Frijns qualifies in car that won last year's LMP2 race at Spa.
- Jota fifth with Pietro Fittipaldi peaking on a 2m06.556s in gold liveried car.
- No.9 Prema completes top six as Bent Viscaal qualifies Italian entered Oreca-Gibson.
LMGTE Am: Pole – No.25 ORT by TF Sport
- Ahmad Al Harthy in ORT by TF Aston Martin claims a sensational first pole position with a scorching 2m17.216s
- Omani driver is a massive 1.9s faster than second placed Iron Dames Porsche driven by local ace Sarah Bovy.
- Ryan Hardwick completes best qualifying of the season for the No.88 Dempsey Proton Porsche 911 RSR-19 with third position on the LMGTE Am grid.
- Points leading No.33 Corvette Racing will start fourth as Ben Keating qualifies car.
- Luis Perez Companc places fifth for the Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari in solid result after two practice accidents for the No.83 car.
- No.98 Northwest AMR entry rounds out top six as Ian James sets time in re-jigged crew.
- Session red flagged after PJ Hyett in Project 1-AO Porsche 911 RSR-19 crashes at Raidillon. US driver emerges unscathed.
Find full results HERE
Tomorrow's 6 hour race starts at 12:45 local time.