Kubica Takes COTA Pole as Ferrari Locks Out Front Row

Changeable conditions made tire calls decisive, setting the grid for Sunday’s six-hour at COTA.

Overview

Robert Kubica secured Hyperpole with a 1:57.655 in the No. 83 Ferrari 499P, edging Antonio Giovinazzi’s No. 51 by 0.096 seconds.
Jean-Eric Vergne qualified third for Peugeot, Kevin Estre took fourth for Porsche, Nicklas Nielsen was fifth for Ferrari, Dries Vanthoor spun late, and Alex Riberas completed the top ten for Aston Martin.
The opening segment’s variable track caught out wet-tyre gambles, eliminating both Cadillacs (Nos. 12 and 38) and Toyota’s No. 7 along with several others.
Giammarco Levorato put Proton’s No. 88 Ford Mustang GT3 on LMGT3 pole over teammate Ben Tuck by 0.018 seconds after the car advanced to Hyperpole when the No. 87 Lexus was penalized for taking the checkered flag twice.
Points leaders No. 92 Manthey Porsche and No. 21 Vista AF Corse Ferrari did not reach LMGT3 Hyperpole, and the six-hour race is scheduled to start Sunday at 1 p.m. CST.