Rebellion Racing ekes out an advantage in qualifying for the Estoril 6 Hours

Rebellion Racing increases its lead

The drivers who left it late to qualify for the Estoril 6 Hours made the right choice. The blue sky with a few clouds meant there was no threat of rain. Neel Jani and Rebellion Racing used this ploy to take pole in LM P1. Julien Jousse in the Pescarolo team's Pescarolo-Judd was quickest until Jani got round in 1m 30.118s beating the Frenchman's 1m 30.317s. This result has given Rebellion Racing a 3-point lead in the LM P1 teams' classification, but the Pescarolo trio is still in front in the drivers' ratings. The Swiss team has two cars, which could prove a decisive advantage in the race.

Greaves Motorsport clinches the title in LM P2!

The British team needed only 1 point to clinch the teams' and drivers' titles in LM P2. Tom Kimber-Smith did the job in qualifying. Early on, the quickest was Mathias Beche in the TDS Racing Oreca 03-Nissan in 1m 32.347s who was beaten by Danny Watts in the Strakka Racing HPD-ARX O1d who lapped in 1m 32.072s. Kimber-Smith put the issue beyond doubt with a lap in 1m 31.888s, which he improved to 1m 31.800s. Tomorrow, Greaves Motorsport will be able to race without pressure and conclude its excellent 2011 season (3 victories in 4 races plus a win in the Le Mans 24 Hours) on a high note!

Neil Garner Motorsport fights back

Although Neil Garner Motorsport is in last place of the FLM teams present at Estoril Alex Kapadia bagged pole for the British team so it will finish in the top 3 in the championship. He got round in 1m 36.044s beating Nicolas Marroc in his JMB racing FLM09 whose best was 1m 36.480s. Given the absence of Genoa Racing, Pegasus Racing is assured of the title tomorrow, but the remaining podium places are still up for grabs.

Rob Bell and JMW Motorsport score their first pole of the season!

In LM GTE Pro the overall classification was won by AF Corse at Silverstone. Despite Porsche making a good start to the session thanks to Marco Holzer, Prospeed Competition, and Richard Lietz in the Felbermayr-Proton team's 997, Ferrari fought back and Rob Bell bagged his first pole of the season in 1m 39.176s followed by Gianmaria Bruni who got round in 1m 39.356s in his AF Corse 458 Italia GTC. The runner-up places in GTE Pro still have to be decided so the Estoril 6 Hours will be crucial for the Porsche and Ferrari teams.

Nicolas Armindo on pole again!

The winner of the 2010 German Porsche Carrera Cup has been the revelation of the season in GTE Am. He scored another pole giving his team, IMSA Matmut Performance, another point in the overall classification. Marco Cioci got round in 1m 40.588s in his AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT, but Armindo went even quicker in his Porsche 997 with a time of 1m 40.014s. Armindo and Narac have set their sights on victory in the Estoril 6 Hours to end their season with a flourish.

Reactions

Neel Jani (no. 12 Rebellion Racing LM P1 Lola-Toyota): “We felt very confident after free practice. We knew that a three-lap series would be enough to do the job; that's why we came out late. I had a clear lap and the car was perfect. Tomorrow's battle looks like being very intense. We'll only think about the strategy for the title in the final hour of the race.”  

Tom Kimber-Smith (no. 41 Greaves Motorsport LM P2 Zytek Z11SN-Nissan): “The car was perfectly set up to go for a good time over two flying laps. The point for the pole has clinched the title for us. I'd like to thank the whole team for the great job they've done this year. We have a car that's been absolutely reliable and that's our strength.”

Rob Bell (no. 66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari F458 LM GTE Pro): “We've had a difficult year but we've hung on in there. This pole is a great reward. We did a lot of work on the setup. This result is the combination of a number of favourable factors like the climate, the tyres and my performance.”  

Nicolas Armindo (no. 67 IMSA Performance Porsche 997, LM GTE Am): “We've worked hard all season and it's up to us to finish with a flourish tomorrow. The pole's important but it's not a bad thing having several GTE Pros in front of us as we won't get caught up in their scrap. We have to try and avoid getting into trouble. Winning the championship is the priority.”