Garage 59 secures pole position in LMGT3 at Imola in its WEC debut

Securing pole position in his very first qualifying session WECThis is the kind of result that exceeds even the most optimistic expectations. Tom Fleming, who scored the decisive lap for Garage 59, is savoring the moment without restraint: "It's a good feeling! This is Garage 59's debut in the championship, and they've done a superb job all winter. The team has worked very well with McLaren to give us the best possible car, and I really pushed hard in qualifying. A well-deserved pole position, obtained in an LMGT3 category where, as Fleming himself points out, the gaps between the cars remained tight — making the slightest mistake immediately punished.

Antares Au, for its part, was able to count on a valuable asset: the advice of Marvin Kirchhöfer from the stand. "Tom is very fast, I'm not as fast, and I had the advantage of having Marvin coaching me."he frankly admits, "I am truly happy and grateful to the team." The honesty of the Bronze driver, which illustrates well the mindset of a close-knit crew where everyone fully assumes their role, whether behind the wheel or behind the screens.

Kirchhöfer, the discreet coach of a collective pole

Marvin Kirchhöfer, for his part, experienced this qualifying session in an unusual role. The man who could have been behind the wheel found himself guiding his teammates from the pits, and he did so with genuine generosity: "Thomas and Antares did a superb job, I didn't do much! It's a new situation for me to be behind the screen and only be able to give advice." Far from minimizing his contribution, this statement reveals above all the cohesion of a group that has clearly prepared well for the start of the season together.

For Garage 59, this pole position is much more than just a result: it's the immediate validation of an intense winter of work between the team and McLaren. Kirchhöfer concludes with undisguised pride: "I am very happy and proud of all the work done by Garage 59 and McLaren; it's a great way to start our first season in the WEC." The race will be another story, but for now, the trio will start from the best possible position to write the first chapter of their shared adventure in Endurance global starting this Sunday, from 13 p.m.

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