IDEC Sport’s Valerio Rinicella has scored his first European Le Mans pole position this afternoon, ahead of the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
The Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Programme member endured a nervy wait in the LMP2 qualifying session, after the French squad elected to push before the majority of its rivals.
He lost his first lap, a 2:01.815, due to track limits on the exit of Les Combes, but recorded a valid 2:01.268 on his next flyer which proved fast enough to hold on for pole position for the #18 ORECA 07 – Gibson.
It is IDEC Sport’s first pole since Le Castellet 2024.
“The initial plan was to try two sets [of tyres], to understand the track a bit on the first one, and then to try the maximum” Rinicella said.
“I think I maximised everything on the first set, so I’m really happy. The team did a mega job, we’ve shown all weekend that we have good pace, so let’s see now in the race.”
Rinicella’s closest challenge came from the #43 Inter Europol Competition ORECA, with Tom Dillmann coming up 0.154 seconds short.
The championship-leading #22 United Autosports ORECA will start from third, with Gregoire Saucy qualifying ahead of Reshad De Gérus’ #34 Inter Europol Competition and Jake Hughes’ #25 Algarve Pro Racing machines.
The expected charge from the pole sitter in the past two rounds, Forestier Racing by Panis’ Esteban Masson, never truly materialised, with the Frenchman qualifying the #29 ORECA in sixth.
The #10 Vector Sport, #37 CLX Motorsport, #9 Proton Competition and #24 Nielsen Racing entries completed the top 10, with Paul-Loup Chatin having to settle for 11th aboard the #28 IDEC Sport ORECA after spinning at Pouhon on his second flying lap.
In LMP2 Pro/Am, Giorgio Roda made it three poles in four races aboard the #30 Duqueine Team ORECA, reducing the French squad’s deficit in the championship to just four points.
The Italian, the first driver on track, was never headed in the 15-minute session, as he set three laps quick enough for pole, the best of them a 2:03.578.
“It was tricky,” Roda said. “Especially as since Monday I’ve been sick, so I don’t feel very well, but at the end we did pole position. It was really special because it’s for Cédric [Sbirrazzuoli], who passed away two days ago.”
Jean Glorieux was second in the #3 DKR Engineering ORECA, 0.944 seconds back, with the #7 Vector Sport, #19 Rossa Racing by Virage and #99 AO by TF entries rounding out the top five.
Michael Jensen qualified seventh in championship-leading the #20 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA, whilst Steven Thomas was 11th in the #14 TDS Racing ORECA after a difficult session including an off at Les Combes.
Pierre-Alexandre Provost claimed LMP3 pole in the #85 R-ace GP Duqueine D09 – Toyota, after triumphing in a duel with the #4 DKR Engineering Ligier JS P325 of Wyatt Brichacek.
Twice, Provost went the top of the timesheets, only for Brichacek to claim provisional pole moments later. Brichacek, however, made a mistake on his final flying lap, giving Provost a golden opportunity to secure pole.
The Frenchman duly delivered, setting a 2:12.186 to secure pole by 0.287 seconds.
It’s R-ace GP’s second pole of its debut ELMS season, and a first for Provost, with his co-driver Hugo Schwarze having been on qualifying duty in Barcelona.
Louis Iglesias was third in the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier, ahead of the similar #8 Team Virage, #35 Ultimate and championship-leading #5 Rinaldi Racing machines.
And in LMGT3, Anthony McIntosh made a dream return to ELMS competition, scoring pole aboard the #59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3.
McIntosh set a 2:20.206 on his final flying lap, overhauling fellow American Blake McDonald by 0.620 seconds.
McDonald had spent the majority of the session at the top of the timesheets, after his #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R made the correct call to start the session on slick tyres, but the championship leader had to settle for second.
Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi qualified third aboard the #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3, ahead of the #50 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Custodio Toledo.
Martin Berry made it five different marques in the top five aboard the #77 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) LMGT3, with his teammate Mathew Kurzejewski joining him on the third row of the grid in the #75 Porsche.
The 2026 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will take place at 13:00 CEST tomorrow.
Images courtesy of David Lord
