Alpine claims first overall pole position at Portimão; Estre fastest in LMGTE Pro for Porsche
Alpine Elf Matmut claims its first-ever overall pole position for round two of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship, the 8 Hours of Portimão.
Porsche takes the top spot in the LMGTE Pro class as they continue a close fight with historic rivals Ferrari, as Kevin Estre takes second consecutive pole.
Below are the main headlines from qualifying.
Hypercar
• Alpine Elf Matmut still on top as Matthieu Vaxiviere tops the times after setting a best lap of 1m30.364
• First overall pole for Alpine in WEC and first French team to take an overall pole in the World Championship
• Brendon Hartley in the No. 8 Toyota GR010-Hybrid for Toyota Gazoo Racing is a close second on a 1m30.458s
• The No. 7 Toyota is third as Mike Conway achieved a fastest lap of 1m30.540s as top three are covered by just 0.176s
• Glickenhaus Racing’s Richard Westbrook qualifies fourth in debut for US-entered team, the all-new Glickenhaus 007 Hypercar
LMGTE Pro
• Kevin Estre sets fastest lap to claim second consecutive pole position with a 1m37.986 in No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR-19
• Estre set two lap times that would have been good enough for pole as No.92 team continues 100% points success in 2021 so far
• James Calado takes second place on grid with 1m38.359s lap in No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo. But Brit sees next quick lap cancelled for track limit violation
• No.91 Porsche driven by Gimmi Bruni starts third but No.52 Ferrari has difficult session and will start at rear of grid
• Daniel Serra penalised for track limit infringements and only sets one flying lap
LMP2
• JOTA takes 1-2 in LMP2 as Tom Blomqvist sets searing lap of 1m31.210s in No. 28 Oreca-Gibson
• Blomqvist’s best lap just beats local ace Antonio Felix da Costa in No. 38 JOTA entry as he stops the clocks on 1m31.255, just 0.045s off sister car’s time
• Racing Team Nederland team continue strong form with third placed time in LMP2 as Job van Uitert qualifies and claims Pro/Am class best
LMGTE Am
• LMGTE Am class pole taken by Egidio Perfetti in No. 56 Team Project 1 Porsche as he leaves it late to set a 1m40.191 pace-setting best
• No.77 Dempsey Proton second as Christian Reid sets best lap of 1m40.236s but is just beaten after Perfetti’s lap which is just 0.045s quicker
• Roberto Lacorte’s 1m40.885 for Cetilar Racing good enough for third position as they look to fight for another podium after recent success at Spa-Francorchamps
For full results from qualifying, click HERE.
Tomorrow’s 8 hour race will commence at 11h00 local time.
