Oman Racing Team’s Aston Martin of Ahmad Al Harthy, Jonny Adam and Darren Turner claimed pole position ahead of the fifth running of the Gulf 12 Hours after an aggregate time of 2:09.6.
“Very happy team, car is performing very well, lap times very close,” Turner told Radio Le Mans, with the team cheering in the background. “Really good battle but didn’t have a clue that we were on pole until the end! I think me and Jonny are on the same lap time, and Ahmad did a great job too. He did it in the sim earlier today, so for him to repeat it is great.
“The Boys are all pumped up now, we’re ready to take it to them!”
The remainder of the top three was filled by the two Black Falcon Mercedes SLS’ with second on the grid being filled by the #2 and third by the #1.
It wasn’t all plain sailing though, as the #1 – which looked like it was a lock for pole position after Khaled Al Qubaisi and Maro Engel’s laps, but an issue with the car prevented them setting a competitive time in the third and final session with Jeroen Bleekemolen at the wheel.
“We don’t know, it could be a battery issue, but it’s also likely an alternator issue,” said team manager Sean-Paul Breslin. “We won’t know until we get the car back from the organisers later.”
The SLS’ were 0.083 and 0.144 back from the Aston Martin respectfully in the end however. Yelmer Buurman, whose car (the #2) was without any issues in the session, was in far better spirits than his teammates on the other side of the garage.
“It was a great session actually,” he said after Qualifying. “I’m still finding it tough to get used to the Avon tyres though, usually tyres are great as soon as you start, but it takes a while for the grip levels of the Avons to get there. My fastest lap was actually my last one in the end, but by then the rears had started to fade.
“Either way, I’m really pleased with second, and if Hubert (Hapt) hadn’t had to deal with traffic in his session, we may have had pole!”
Fourth and fifth on the sheets was the #11 Kessel Ferrari of Davide Rigon, Michal Broniszewski and Giacomo Piccini and the first of the Pro-Am runners – the #51 AF Corse Ferrari.
In the Porsche Cup class, which consists of five entires was dominated by the #20 MRS Porsche with Americans Charles Putman and Espenlaub with Dutchman Xavier Massen providing some veteran support. The Cup car finished almost three seconds ahead of the rest of the class with a time of 2:17.299.
“MRS really have given us a great car,” said Charles Espenlaub. “I said to Charles (Putman) when he got in the car for the final session: ‘just don’t mess up!’ because we were so far ahead.”
The Gentleman class was headed by the #65 Kessel Racing Ferrari with Loris Capirossi driving.
The #55 AF Corse Ferrari didn’t take part in the session, with the team continuing to repair the damage after Jack Gerber’s shunt in the third Free Practice session.
Tomorrow’s action starts with the first six hours of the event at 9:30am local time.
Words & Photos: Stephen Kilbey
