ELMS Portimao: Leaders deliver as LMP2 Pro/Am sees a surprise pole-sitter

Under sunny and clear conditions, qualifying got underway for the final round of this year’s European Le Mans Series, with all classes still having a title to fight for. Overall leaders United Autosports with their #22 LMP2 delivered when it mattered, as they did not top any of the practice sessions, but Grégoire Saucy struck at exactly the right moment. The 26-year-old Swiss driver secured pole position for tomorrow’s race.

The Portuguese LMP2 squad Algarve Pro Racing will start alongside them with their #25 entry, while direct rivals Forestier Racing by Panis will line up third. The French-based team will not only be fighting United Autosports for the title, but are also being chased by Algarve Pro Racing in the battle for an automatic invitation to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With so many things at stake for all three teams, strategy and traffic management will be key.

Top 5 LMP2

#22 United Autosports – 1:31.140

#25 Algarve Pro Racing – 1:31.563 (+0.423)

#29 Forestier Racing by Panis – 1:31.606 (+0.466)

#28 IDEC Sport – 1:31.770 (+0.630)

#18 IDEC Sport – 1:31.979 (+0.839)

In LMP2 Pro/Am, eight teams are still in the running to claim the title, with nerves being a factor for the amateur drivers, who were in the car for qualifying. In such a close championship, one of the few teams that isn’t in that fight made use of that psychological advantage. Having scored only 11 points this season, 41-year-old Belgian Jean Glorieux managed to put the #3 DKR Engineering entry first ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Championship leaders AF Corse only managed to put their car just inside the top 10 with the #83 entry, leading by just five points over #14 TDS Racing and by six points over #20 Algarve Pro Racing and #30 Duqueine Team, who all start inside the top four. It will be anything but easy for the Italian-based squad.

The Pro/Am championship is still far away from being decided, with the championship leaders set to start tomorrow’s race from ninth place.

Top 5 LMP2 Pro/Am

#3 DKR Engineering – 1:33.057

#30 Duqueine Team – 1:33.323 (+0.266)

#20 Algarve Pro Racing – 1:33.482 (+0.425)

#14 TDS Racing – 1:33.738 (+0.681)

#16 Vector Sport – 1:33.757 (+0.700)

CLX Motorsport kept their dominant form going as the LMP3 leaders will start from first place with their #17 entry. 18-year-old French driver Louis Iglesias delivered once again, as he made the difference on track and secured pole position ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Top 5 LMP3

#17 CLX Motorsport – 1:38.835

#13 Inter Europol Competition – 1:39.261 (+0.426)

#26 Bretton Racing – 1:39.569 (+0.734)

#4 DKR Engineering – 1:39.722 (+0.887)

#8 Team Virage – 1:39.777 (+0.942)

Just as in the previous named class, in LMGT3 the leaders showed up when it mattered as 36-year-old Qatari driver Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi managed to put the #62 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 on pole position for Team Qatar by Iron Lynx.