Kamui Kobayashi took the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar to its second pole position of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship season at Monza this afternoon beating the #50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco by just 0.017s. LMP2 saw the #41 Team WRT take pole with Robert Kubica putting in a lap of 1m:39.354s.
LMGTE Am went the way of the #85 Iron Dames with Sarah Bovy driving the Porsche 911 RSR-19 to a lap of 1m:47.632.
FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP MONZA: PREVIEW
As the session began, the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar, piloted by Kobayashi, immediately caught everyone’s attention. Kobayashi unleashed the full potential of his machine, pushing it to its limits around the circuit. Lap after lap, he carved through the corners with precision and unleashed its raw power on the straights.
The crowd held their breath as the timing screens flashed the final result of Kobayashi’s flyer—a scorching lap time of 1m35.358s. It was an incredible achievement, securing the pole position for the #7 Toyota team. However, the competition was fierce, as just a mere 0.017 seconds behind Kobayashi, Antonio Fuoco in the #50 AF Corse Ferrari showcased his own exceptional skills and claimed second place.
In third position was the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar driven by Brendon Hartley, demonstrating the team’s dominance. Jean-Eric Vergne in the #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies Peugeot 9X8 managed to secure fourth place, further intensifying the battle between the manufacturers.
The Hypercar field continued to impress, with Alex Lynn piloting the Cadillac Racing V-Series.R to claim the fifth spot on the grid. The #51 Ferrari AF Corse, driven by Antonio Giovinazzi, completed the top six. The rest of the Hypercar field consisted of formidable contenders like the #94 Peugeot, #5 Porsche Penske, Hertz Team Jota Porsche, #6 Porsche Penske, Glickenhaus, Proton Porsche, and Floyd Vanwall.
LMP2
While the Hypercar category stole the spotlight, the LMP2 class showcased its own thrilling battle for pole position. Robert Kubica, driving the #41 Team WRT entry, put on an awe-inspiring display of skill and speed. His peak lap of 1m39.354s left his competitors trailing behind, securing a brilliant pole position for the team.
Pietro Fittipaldi of the Jota team gave a valiant effort, falling just 0.3 seconds short of Kubica’s time and settling for second place. The #22 United Autosports, driven by Phil Hanson, claimed third position with a lap time of 1m39.790s.
The top six in the fiercely competitive LMP2 category were completed by Vector Sport, represented by Gabriel Aubry, Inter Europol Competition with Albert Costa behind the wheel, and the #31 Team WRT Oreca-Gibson.
LMGTE Am
Sarah Bovy, representing the Iron Dames, showed her exceptional driving skills as she attacked the fast and challenging circuit in the #85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 RSR-19. Lap after lap, she pushed the car to its limits, extracting every ounce of performance from the machine. Bovy’s determination paid off as she claimed not just one, but two laps good enough for pole position.
Bovy’s best lap time, a remarkable 1m47.632s, secured her team’s second consecutive pole position. It was an outstanding achievement, highlighting Bovy’s talent and the competitiveness of the Iron Dames team. However, she had to watch out for Ahmad Al Harthy in the ORT by TF Sport Aston Martin, who was just 0.4 seconds behind her. Al Harthy’s impressive performance earned him a well-deserved second place on the grid.
Christian Ried, piloting the #77 Dempsey Proton Porsche, showcased his own skills, lapping in 1m48.166s and securing third position. The competition was intense, as the top six positions were fiercely contested. The Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari, the GR Racing Porsche, and the points-leading Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R completed the highly competitive group.
However, the qualifying session was not without its drama. The session had to be split into two parts after a spin by WEC debutant Efrin Castro in the #56 Project 1 AO Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19. The spin scattered gravel on the track at the Ascari Chicane, causing a hazardous situation. In the chaos that ensued, Mike Wainwright in the #86 GR Racing Porsche also fell victim to a spin. The incidents added a dramatic twist to the session, forcing the drivers to navigate through the challenging conditions and adapt to the changing track dynamics.
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