Peugeot secures a 1-2 on the grid for the season opening Sebring Twelve Hours, with Marc Gene outpacing Nicolas Minassian for pole
As expected, Peugeot has secured a lock-out of the front row for the opening round of the
American Le Mans Series at Sebring, with Marc Gene heading team-mate Nicolas Minassian in qualifying.
The two factory 908 HDis had been the quickest cars in the run up to the event, so there was little surprise when the battle for pole came down to a straight fight between Gene and Minassian.
Gene ultimately came out on top with a best time of 1min 45.214secs to end up comfortably clear of his French team-mate, with the pair completing just one qualifying run each to secure the top two spots.
Behind them, Stefan Mucke put the lone Aston Martin Racing entry third on the grid alongside the Lola Coupe-Judd of Drayson Racing. The team had been forced to work hard to repair the car after Paul Drayson crashed in the morning practice but was rewarded with a second row start thanks to the experienced figure of Emanuele Pirro.
Quickest of the P2 runners in fifth overall were defending champions Patron Highcroft Racing, with Marino Franchitti given the job of qualifier. The Scot was a tenth of a second clear of the Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder of Klaus Graf – despite suffering a spin during the session – with Guy Smith third for Dyson Racing.
The new LMPC class saw Gunnar Jeanette score pole on his final lap, pipping Level 5's
IndyCar ace Ryan Hunter-Reay to top honours with his own Green Earth Team Gunnar entry. JR Hildebrand was third quickest for Genoa Racing.
GT2 honours went to BMW Rahal Letterman Racing thanks to Dirk Muller ahead of the first of the Flying Lizard Porsches – in the hands of Jorg Bergmeister – and the Falken Tire Porsche of Wolf Henzler, with Risi Ferrari of Jaime Melo and the two factory Corvettes rounding out the top six.
The GTC pole went to Leh Keen as Alex Job Racing celebrated its return to the ALMS by securing the top three places on the grid.
