With air temperatures at 29 levels Celsius and 40-degree monitor temperatures, each manufacturing facility Porsche 963 automobiles struggled for grip within the fading gentle on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, hampering their try at securing prime beginning positions. Kévin Estre was knocked out of qualifying with 18th, whereas his teammate Julien Andlauer achieved a prime ten time to safe a spot in Hyperpole, finally ending eighth within the shootout. Porsche nonetheless has an opportunity to win the producers’ championship in tomorrow’s finale, with Estre and Laurens Vanthoor aiming to defend their drivers’ title. The shopper Porsche 963 from Proton Competitors will begin from place 17.
‟Our quantity 5 automobile was in a position to realise the total potential of the Porsche 963 in the present day – Julien did a incredible job,” explains Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. ‟Sadly, Kévin locked up his brakes on his first flying lap and was unable to make up floor afterwards. I’m assured that our two hybrid prototypes will carry out higher within the race. We additionally began from far behind at Le Mans and Fuji but nonetheless achieved prime outcomes.”
LMGT3 Class: disappointing qualifying for each Porsche 911 GT3 R
Within the LMGT3 class, each Porsche 911 GT3 R automobiles campaigned by Manthey had been unable to match the tempo of the main groups. American Ryan Hardwick wrapped up the session in seventeenth on the wheel of the championship-leading Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche, whereas France’s Célia Martin posted 18th in Iron Dames’s 911 GT3 R.
The eighth and ultimate spherical of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) marks the fiftieth race for the Porsche 963, probably the most profitable LMDh hybrid prototype. The eight-hour race will get the inexperienced flag on Saturday, 8 November at 2pm native time (noon CET).
Driver feedback after the qualifying
Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): ‟It was all the time clear to us that we wouldn’t be capable of match the tempo of the front-runners over a single quick lap. With that in thoughts, I’m glad with the qualifying consequence. One or two tenths of a second may nonetheless have been attainable with a flawless run. I’m assured we’ll look stronger within the race.”
Kévin Estre (Porsche 963 #6): ‟One other disappointing qualifying session for us after Fuji – what a disgrace. On my first run, the wheels locked as I braked for the primary nook. After that, I eased off and took it simple on the tyres, however on my subsequent try there wasn’t sufficient grip. Hopefully, we will combat our means again within the race.”
Célia Martin (Porsche 911 GT3 R #85): ‟Qualifying has been a problem for us all season, and that was very true in the present day. The temperatures had been considerably decrease in the course of the session in comparison with free observe at noon – which in all probability explains why our Porsche felt so totally different. I’m curious to see what insights the information will reveal. Happily, now we have the robust Manthey staff behind us, and we’re decided to show the tide within the race.”
Ryan Hardwick (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): ‟I’m disillusioned with my worst qualifying efficiency of the season. The monitor is nice enjoyable, however we nonetheless can’t fairly optimise the Porsche’s setup for the exhausting tyres. Sadly, we’ll be beginning behind our championship rivals, so there’s plenty of work forward of us.”
Qualifying consequence
Hypercar class:
1. Conway/Kobayashi/de Vries (GBR/JPN/NLD), Toyota #7, 1:46.826 minutes
2. Buemi/Hartley/Hirakawa (CHE/NZL/JPN), Toyota #8, 1:46.977 minutes
3. Duval/Jakobsen/Pourchaire (FRA/DNK/FRA), Peugeot #94, 1:47.166 minutes
8. Andlauer/Heinrich/Jaminet (FRA/DEU/FRA), Porsche 963 #5, 1:47.870 minutes
17. Jani/Pino/Varrone (CHE/CHL/ARG), Porsche 963 #99, 1:48.914 minutes
18. Campbell/Estre/Vanthoor (AUS/FRA/BEL), Porsche 963 #6, 1:49.157 minutes
LMGT3 class:
1. Robin/Gehrsitz/Barnicoat (FRA/DEU/GBR), Lexus #78, 2:01.661 minutes
2. Gilbert/Hanafin/Rueda (GBR/GBR/ESP), Mercedes-AMG #60, 2:01.987 minutes
3. Berry/Hodenius/Martin (AUS/NLD/BEL), Mercedes-AMG #61, 2:02.017 minutes
17. Hardwick/Lietz/Pera (USA/AUT/ITA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #92, 2:04.520 minutes
18. Frey/Gatting/Martin (CHE/DNK/FRA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #85, 2:04.992 minutes
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