Toyota storms to pole in Germany

Toyota took a closely fought pole position for tomorrow’s 6 Hours of Nurburgring , the fourth round in this season's FIA World Endurance Championship.

Jose-Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi combined to set an average lap time of 1m38.118s to take a third pole position of the season for the No.7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID.

Lopez set a blistering pace from the very start to set the foundation for Le Mans qualifying hero Kobayashi to build on, and their margin to the second placed No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid was just 0.154s.

The reigning champion No.1 Porsche 919 Hybrid will start third ahead of the No.8 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID.

G-Drive Racing, Porsche GT Team and Aston Martin Racing claimed the pole positions in the remaining classes in what were all closely matched duels.

With the scene set for another fascinating WEC race, Sunday promises to be a memorable battle between the world’s most spectacular endurance sportscars.

Race start is scheduled for 13.00 local time.

The Headlines from Qualifying...

• Toyota will start from pole position after Jose-Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi combined to set the best average of 1:38.118.
• Third pole of the 2017 season for the No.7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID
• Porsche place second and third with No.2 919 Hybrid ahead of sister No.1 machine
• No.8 Toyota places fourth on grid as Nakajima and Davidson qualify
• G-Drive Racing maintain 100% 2017 LMP2 pole record as Ben Hanley and Pierre Thiriet combine to set average of 1:45.001
• ** UPDATE FOLLOWING POST-QUALIFYING SCRUTINEERING

• Following post qualifying scrutineering checks, the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA 07 Gibson was found to be non-compliant with LMP2 Technical Regulations (Art.3.5.6d, front part of skid block deflects more than 5mm).  The car’s qualifying times have all been cancelled but it will be allowed to take the start of the race from the back of the grid. 

• The outcome gives the No.38 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA of Oliver Jarvis and Thomas Laurent its first class pole position of the 2017 season. 

• No.31 Rebellion start third with Bruno Senna and Julien Canal driving

• Porsche 911 RSR driven Michael Christensen and Kevin Estre takes pole position in LMGTE Pro category, the first for Porsche GT (Porsche Manthey Racing) since Bahrain in 2013
• Average lap time of 1:54.007 by Christensen and Estre combination ensures first pole for new model Porsche 911 RSR
• All four manufacturers have now taken a pole position apiece in ultra-competitive LMGTE Pro category
• Aston Martin start from second on the grid as Marco Sorensen and Nicki Thiim combine to set average lap time of 1:54.352
• Second of the Porsche 911 RSR cars driven by Frederic Makowiecki and Richard Lietz take third position

• In LMGTE Am Aston Martin maintain 100% 2017 point for pole record as Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana sweep to pole
• Canadian and Portuguese combination set average of 1:56.721, with Lamy setting fastest lap of 1:55.686
• Today’s pole is also the eighth consecutive pole position point for the entry dating back to COTA last September
• Local heroes Dempsey-Proton Porsche start second in class as Matteo Cairoli and Christian Ried set times

All provisional qualifying times can be found HERE