R-ace GP will start today’s Le Mans Cup race in Paul Ricard from Pole Position, after a standout performance from Fabien Michal in Qualifying this afternoon which saw him set a 1:49.975 in the team’s #85 Duqueine D08.
The Frenchman, who will run with a highly-unusual pit stop handicap in today’s race, was the only driver to set a lap under 1:50 in the session.
Jamie Falvey came closest in the #44 Team Virage Ligier, and briefly sat on provisional pole before Michal’s final time. But he would settle for second spot on the front row with a 1:50.501.
The second row will be occupied by the #97 COOL Racing Ligier and the #2 from CD Sport after Shahan Sarkissian improved on his time with a 1:51.247 on his final lap.
The #59 from Team Virage would end up completing the top five in the times.
The LMP3 session was disrupted by a red flag after contact between Tim Creswick’s #43 Inter Europol Ligier and the #87 JS P320 from COOL Racing driven by James Sweetnam at the final corner.
The contact saw the COOL car end up turned around and Creswick pull off the circuit moments later before Turn 1 with steering damage, causing the brief stoppage.
GT3 meanwhile saw Iron Dames take pole position at the death after a 1:56.485 from Celia Martin in the #83 Lamborghini Huracan. Martin made multiple improvements late in the session, eventually rising from second to pole.
Her time pipped the Barcelona-winning #51 AF Corse Ferrari to the top spot by under two tenths after Matthew Kurzejewski’s 1:56.641 which originally looked good enough for pole in the closing stages. The American looked set to improve his time on his final tour of the circuit, but lost out in the final sector and would stay second.
Steller Motorsport’s Audi R8 ended up third after Darren Malkin’s 1:56.768. He was the only other driver to set a sub 1:57 time.
The remaining seven cars in the class all ended up over a second off pole. Kessel Racing’s #74 Ferrari will start alongside the Audi on the front row, while the Blackthorn Aston will line up fifth for the team’s Le Mans Cup debut.
The Le Mans Cup race later today is set to get underway at 17:50 local time, and can be streamed for free on the Le Mans Cup YouTube channel.
Images courtesy of Le Mans Cup
