AMR have to settle for a lower grid start in WEC

Having paved the way in the earlier stages of the opening round of the 2017 World Endurance Championship, today finally saw the expected rejuvenation of both the Ferrari and Ford entries as one from each stable went on to lock out the front rows of the GTE Pro grid in qualifying.


During the final Free Practice session earlier this morning, both the AMR Pro cars found themselves related to the lower levels of the timing sheet as both Ford GT's and Ferrari 488's lodged their fastest laps of the event so far.

All three AMR cars were first out for their twenty minute qualifying slot earlier this afternoon with Nicki Thiim piloting the #95, Darren Turner in the #97 and Pedro Lamy out in the #98 Am Class car.


Despite some jockeying for position on the timing board two decent and very similar lap times from both Thiim and Sorensen, that was still not enough as an early banker from Ford's Andy Prilaux secured the #66 car provisional pole and a late charge from Sam Bird in the #71 Ferrari took the remaining front row slot from the reigning GTE champions who will start P3. The Valero livered #97 car of Darren Turner and Jonny Adam (with Daniel Serra) will start P5.

Over in GTE Am however, the #98 car of Pedro Lamy and then Paul Dalla Lana continued the high pace that they continued to show this morning to secure class pole.