Following an intense qualifying session at the Autodromo do Algarve, the #34 Racing Team Turkey Oreca 07-Gibson will start on pole for tomorrow’s final round of the 2022 European Le Mans Series.
Moments after the chequered flag was deployed, the #9 Prema racing Oreca with Louis Deletraz at the wheel crossed the line to consolidate his provisional pole position time to cheers from the team’s garage, pole would have secured the 2022 ELMS title for the Italian squad.
Seconds later though the #34 Oreca of Jack Aitken pulled an unexpected last sector improvement out of seemingly nowhere to surge to pole position with a 1:32:375 lap time, less than a tenth up on Deletraz’s 1:32.447.
The Swiss driver’s lap time of 1:32:447 was followed by the third-placed #47 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca 07 of James Allen who set a 1:31:551 and led the session at the midway point
Second, in the LMP2 championship, the #65 Panis Racing Oreca emerged in fourth spot by Job Van Uitert with a 1:31:551.
The #22 United Autosports Oreca driven by Tom Gamble rounded off the top-five after he set a time of 1:31.638.
15 of the 16 car field qualified within a single second.
LMP3, Jakobsen Completes 2022 Qualifying Clean Sweep
Danish teenager Malthe Jakobsen completed a unique pole position clean sweep for the year in the #17 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320.
MALTHE JAKOBSEN! The Young Dane snatches the sixth LMP3 pole for @COOLRacing and completes his perfect sweep of pole positions this season!#ELMS #4HPortimao @LigierAutomotiv pic.twitter.com/tnEtvQfijA
— European Le Mans Series (@EuropeanLMS) October 15, 2022
He set the pace during the early stages, jostling with fellow championship-title contender #13 Inter Europol Competition and fellow teenager Guilherme Oliveira.
On his home territory, Oliveira trailed Jakobsen with a 1:37:275 lap time in the championship leading Ligier after leading the session early on.
The sole Duqueine #4 DKR Engineering of Sebastian Alvarez completed the top-three after setting a 1:37:575.
The battle for the Drivers’ and Teams’ LMP3 titles, as well as a 2023 Le Mans invitation, takes the title to the wire in LMP3 too.
LM-GTE, Bovy Takes Maiden ELMS Pole For Iron Dames
The #83 Iron Dames Ferrari of Sarah Bovy claimed their first ELMS pole position ahead of a pair of fellow Ferrari 488 GTEs. Bovy the first ever female pole position driver in ELMS history.
Bovy planted herself on the front row with her opening flying laps and continued to improve throughout the session.
A late purple first and middle sector cemented pole with a 1:41:888.
JMW Motorsport’s #66 Ferrari Giamoco Petrobelli set the benchmark during the early stages with a 1:41:916.
A dramatic but brief lock up shortly after setting the time gave him little chance to improve his eventual second position.
The #32 Rinaldi Racing of Diego Alessi rounded off the top three after setting a 1:42:015 around the Portimão circuit.
Tomorrow’s 4 Hours of Portimão will conclude the six-round 2022 European Le Mans Series campaign.
The finale will be broadcast live via the ELMS Youtube channel with Jonny Palmer and Graham Goodwin in the commentary booth at 1pm local time.
