The IMSA Performance Matmut team will start the defence of its GT2 crown from the front of the grid following the final qualifying sessions for the 76th running of the
Le Mans 24 Hours.
Having lay second overnight in qualifying for the race behind fellow Porsche team Flying Lizard Motorsports, the team was one of three to beat the four minute mark in a hard fought Thursday session amongst the GT2 teams, with Porsche factory driver Patrick Long eventually setting the quickest lap of 3m 58.152s at the wheel of the # 76 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR.
"It was a tough fight against the other Porsche drivers and our rivals from Ferrari," Long said, "so this makes it even more wonderful to come out on top when in fact our focus was on finding a good race set-up.
"You notice the positive further developments of the 911 mostly in the fast Porsche Curves, where the car is much calmer compared to last year."
Long ended up nearly a second clear of fellow Porsche factory man Wolf Henzler at the wheel of the Felbermayr-Proton 997, while the leading Ferrari slotted into third; Rob Bell posted the quickest time at the wheel of the Virgo Motorsport entry.
