Below partly cloudy skies and temperatures of 23 levels Celsius, Max Esterson claimed P12 on the grid on the wheel of JDC-Miller MotorSports’ Porsche 963. This was the American’s first IMSA qualifying look. For the race, Esterson will share the cockpit of the No. 85 hybrid prototype with Tijmen van der Helm from the Netherlands and Neel Jani from Switzerland.
‟That incontrovertible fact that the 2 Acuras had been forward in qualifying has little affect on the producers’ championship,” mirrored Urs Kuratle, Director Manufacturing unit Motorsport LMDh. ‟Ranging from fourth and sixth is a strong and completely acceptable consequence. Our long-run tempo in Thursday’s observe was nice. We head into the race and title battle with confidence.”
‟Time gaps between fourth and tenth had been minimal in qualifying, so I’m happy we might place ourselves properly on this very aggressive group,” defined Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. ‟On Thursday, we had been quick within the night time observe, which is essential, as this race is commonly determined after darkish. If we are able to keep within the main pack till the ultimate section, all the things is feasible for us within the huge finale.”
The producers’ championship battle has intensified, with Porsche heading into the season finale holding a slim two-point lead. Within the battle for the drivers’ crown, the 2 Porsche Penske Motorsport manufacturing facility crews have constructed a big hole to their hottest pursuers. Campbell/Jaminet sort out the Petit Le Mans race with a 128-point benefit over Nasr/Tandy.
GT Lessons: ‟Rexy” Porsche 911 GT3 R in skeleton livery to begin fifth
AO Racing’s 911 GT3 R will begin the ultimate IMSA race of the yr from the midfield of the GTD Professional class. Reigning champion Laurin Heinrich planted the fan-favourite ‟Rexy” on P5 in its class. The German shares the Porsche with Klaus Bachler from Austria and Michael Christensen from Denmark – all three graduates of Porsche’s junior programme. Within the GTD class, American Adam Adelson posted the sixteenth quickest time within the equivalent ca. 416 kW (565 hp) 911 fielded by Wright Motorsports.
Watch the twenty eighth Petit Le Mans reside and free on-line
The gripping season finale at Highway Atlanta will get underway on Saturday, 11 October, at 12:10 hours native time (18:10 CEST). Outdoors the USA and Canada, the twenty eighth version of Petit Le Mans could be seen reside and freed from cost by way of imsa.television. Stay timing can also be offered at scoring.imsa.com.
Driver feedback after the qualifying
Matt Campbell (Porsche 963 #6): ‟Sixth place isn’t what I’d hoped for in qualifying. However the race lasts ten hours, so a single lap doesn’t resolve something. Every thing continues to be attainable, significantly as our Porsche 963 ought to be stronger over the total distance than on one flying lap. Tomorrow might be a particularly essential day for us!”
Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #7): ‟Highway Atlanta is a unbelievable problem from begin to end and an absolute blast for us drivers. I’m proud of my qualifying lap. Fourth place offers us a strong beginning place for the race, particularly since we must always have a quick and constant automotive over the total distance. The dense site visitors on Saturday could be tough – greater than 50 vehicles sharing simply over 4 kilometres of observe means we’ll have to navigate rigorously. In the end, when the race reaches dusk and the stakes are highest, we count on to be proper there.”
Max Esterson (Porsche 963 #85): ‟It was a variety of enjoyable to push the Porsche 963 to the restrict in qualifying on recent tyres, with low gas and no site visitors. I want I’d been a little bit faster. My lap went properly – I made a minor mistake, however nothing decisive. General, I’m proud of my first outing in IMSA qualifying.”
Laurin Heinrich (Porsche 911 GT3 R #77): ‟Qualifying at Highway Atlanta is at all times an actual spotlight for me. This distinctive observe ensures thrilling motion. I’m proud of my lap – it was nice enjoyable to take the peerlessly ready Porsche 911 GT3 R to absolutely the restrict over a single lap. Fifth place is strong. Highway Atlanta ought to swimsuit us, and I feel we’re extra aggressive than in earlier races. We plan to step it up on Saturday and battle our means ahead.”
Adam Adelson (Porsche 911 GT3 R #120): ‟I used to be one of many few beginner drivers in qualifying, so we stored our expectations in test. In a ten-hour race, beginning place issues lower than getting all the things proper on observe. Our Porsche will not be the quickest automotive at Highway Atlanta, however our clear aim is to make up for that with a flawless efficiency, sensible technique selections, and error-free pit stops. We are going to give completely all the things till the very finish!”
Qualifying outcomes
GTP class:
1. Blomqvist/Braun/Scott Dixon (GBR/USA/NZL), Acura #60, 1.09.628 minutes
2. Aitken/Bamber/Vesti (GBR/NZL/DNK), Cadillac #31, + 0.199 seconds
3. Van der Zande/Yelloly/Vautier (NLD/GBR/FRA), Acura #93, + 0.280 seconds
4. Nasr/Tandy/Vanthoor (BRA/GBR/BEL), Porsche 963 #7, + 0.613 seconds
6. Campbell/Jaminet/Andlauer (AUS/FRA/FRA), Porsche 963 #6, + 0.656 seconds
12. Van der Helm/Jani/Esterson (NLD/CHE/USA), Porsche 963 #85, + 1.311 seconds
GTD Professional class:
1. Hesse/Harper/De Phillippi (DEU/GBR/USA), BMW #48, 1.18.523 minutes
2. Barnicoat/Telitz/Kirkwood (GBR/GBR/USA), Lexus #14, + 0.167 seconds
3. Milner/Catsburg/Varrone (USA/NLD/ARG), Corvette #4, + 0.224 seconds
5. Bachler/Heinrich/Christensen (AUT/DEU/DNK), Porsche 911 GT3 R #77, + 0.274 seconds
GTD class:
1. Lacorte/Patrese/Molina (ITA/ITA/ESP), Ferrari #47, 1.18.316 minutes
2. Muss/Agostini/Megennis (USA/ITA/USA), Ferrari #021, + 0.289 seconds
3. Hasse-Clot/McIntosh/van der Steur (FRA/USA/USA), Aston Martin #19, + 0.374 seconds
16. Adelson/Skeer/Sargent (USA/USA/AUS), Porsche 911 GT3 R #120, + 2.005 seconds
Full outcomes and championship standings https://results.imsa.com.
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