The McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs dominated the final LMGT3 qualifying of the year at the Bahrain circuit, with United Autosports-operated cars 1-2 thanks to Josh Gaygill and James Cottingham. The duo were only separated by two thousandths at the end of the Hyperpole, with Gaygill giving the British car its first pole in the WEC.
Josh Caygill first dominated the first part of qualifying in the category by placing his #95 McLaren 720S GT3 EVO – United Autosports in the lead in the first 12 minutes of the session, in 2’02″311, 147 thousandths ahead of François Hériau (Ferrari 296 GT3 n°55 – Vista AF Corse) and 0″280 ahead of Sarah Bovy (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 n°85 – Iron Dames).
Not reaching the milestone to reach the Hyperpole, Clément Mateu (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 n°777 – D’station Racing), the two BMW M4 GT3 – Team WRT of Darren Leung and Ahmad Al Harthy, Yasser Shahin (Porsche 911 GT3 R n°91 – Manthey EMA), the two Ford Mustang GT3s – Proton Competition of Giorgio Roda and Ryan Hardwick, Takeshi Kimura (Lexus RC F GT3 n°87 – Akkodis-ASP) and Claudio Schiavoni (Lamborghini n°60 – Iron Lynx ).
The Hyperpole ultimately turns to the advantage of Caygill who signs the first pole position for the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO in WEC in 2’02″201, two thousandths ahead of Gottingham. This is the first time that a brand has secured a first row in the category. François Hériau and Sarah Bovy share the second row at 166 and 435 thousandths respectively. The top 5 is completed by the Porsche n°92 – Manthey Pure Rxcing of Alex Malykhin.
Note the presence for the second consecutive race of the two Corvette Z06 GT3.R – TF Sport in Hyperpole, Tom Van Rompuy and Hiroshi Koizumi finishing 8th and 9th.
© FIA WEC screenshot
The full times are HERE
The 8 Hours of Bahrain will begin tomorrow at 12 p.m. French time.
Belgium
