Duqueine customer team R-ace GP earned its third pole position of the 2024 Le Mans Cup season this afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps.
Fabien Michal starred, as he did at Barcelona and Paul Ricard, setting multiple improvements including a 2:13.785 with three minutes to go to take the top grid spot. It was another impressive performance, one which the French team will be looking to convert into its first win of the season later on.
“It’s crazy to get pole again, it’s great for the championship,” Michal said.
Michal’s time came moments before the LMP3 session was stopped for a spin by Tim Creswick in the #43 Inter Europol Ligier.
The Briton lost the rear end under braking at the Bus Stop and was unable to rejoin after stopping in the run-off area, despite avoiding contact with the barriers. The #43 would be dropped to the bottom of the times for causing the red.
The session did not resume, setting the P3 grid for today’s race.
Second in the times was Tony Wells in the #7 Nielsen Racing Ligier, while CD Sport took third after a strong run from Shahan Sarkissian.
The #26 Bretton Ligier slotted in fourth, ahead of the Team Thor JS P320 which briefly held provisional pole after Audunn Gudmundsson’s first flying lap.
GT3’s session saw Steller Motorsport and Audi Sport score their first ever Le Mans Cup pole position after Andrew Bentley set a 2:19.450 in the session, which was also red flagged.
Bentley’s time was set before the red flag interupption, caused by a spin at the bus stop for Frederic Jousset in the #12 Kessel Racing Ferrari mid-way through the session.
The stoppage set up a frantic dash to set times when the action resumed, and while many drivers improved on their previous best laps, none of them could match the Steller R8.
“First pole for Audi, first for Steller and for me in a GT3 car. It’s been a big learning weekend and that was a real experience, making the most of the tyres and track position. I’m really proud after a last minute call up from Steller.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity, it’s good to pay them back because the team has given us a good car,” Bentley said after the session.
Bentley will be joined on the front row by Matthew Kurzejewski and the AF Corse team’s #51 Ferrari, after a late improvement to a 2:19.622 saw him vault up the order to second.
The #83 Iron Dames Lamborghini took third despite Celia Martin failing to set a time before the red flag and losing time stuck behind the Blackthorn Aston Martin on her final flying lap.
The #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Andrew Gilbert will start fourth ahead of the #88 AF Corse Ferrari that took fifth.
This weekend’s 110-minute Le Mans Cup race will start later today at 16:05 local time. It can be streamed for free on the series YouTube channel.
Image courtesy of Le Mans Cup & JJ Media/Jens Jensen
