ALMS – Maxime Martin offers pole to BMW in Virginia

This weekend the Oak Tree Grand Prix is ​​being held at the Virginia International Raceway, the penultimate round of the American Le Mans Series. At the wheel of his BMW Z4, Maxime Martin offers the propeller firm its third consecutive pole in GT. The Belgian, at the wheel of the No. 55 he shares with Bill Auberlen, completed a lap of the track in 1'45"978. “It’s a great pole position for me, he exults. This is the first time I've walked this circuit, like all American circuits in fact. Its not always easy. I am delighted for the team and very happy to work with my teammate Bill Auberlen. It teaches me a lot, and allows me to get into the rhythm very quickly. This is the third pole position for the team, the third pole for the #55 with a third different driver. We know that tomorrow (today, race day. Editor’s note) it will be very difficult. We are slower on the straights, but the team is working on a good strategy. So I hope that we will reach the (victory. Editor’s note) bring back home. »

At the wheel of the Ferrari 458 Italia du Risi Competizione, l’Italien Matteo Malucelli a signé le deuxième chrono, et ce même s’il a vu son meilleur temps annulé après que du liquide coulant de sa voiture a entraîné la sortie d’un drapeau rouge. La BMW Z4 n°56 de Dirk Müller complète le tiercé de tête et précède La Porsche 911 GT3 RSR du team Falken, les deux Viper GTS-R SRT, la Porsche du Core Autosport et les deux Corvette. Pour rappel, le classement général de la catégorie est dominé par la paire Jan Magnussen-Antonio Garcia, who drives the No. 6 Corvette C1 ZR3.

In LM P2, Ryan Briscoe once again stood out. The Australian took pole position in 1'39"796 at the wheel of the No. 03 Level 551 Motorsports HPD ARX-5b which he shares with boss Scott Tucker. He beat the sister car entrusted this weekend to the trio Marino Franchitti-Stefan Johansson-Guy Cosmo.

Surprise in LM P1, where Dyson Racing took the best time in these qualifications thanks to a lap completed by Guy Smith in 1'35"965. This is the first pole for the #16 Lola this season, on which the Briton will be supported this weekend by his compatriot Johnny Mowlem. The Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c of Klaus Graf-Lucas Luhr is two tenths behind.

The best times in the LM PC and GTC categories are respectively to the credit of Dane Cameron (Oreca 09 FLM n°52 of PR1 Mathiasen Motorsport) and Damien Faulkner (Porche 911 GT3 Cup TRG).