GTD pole-sitter and Ferrari factory driver Alessandrio Pier Guidi spoke about Maralleno’s ‘great’ qualifying for the 12 Hours of Sebring.
The Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours winner and familiar Ferrari works driver took pole position in IMSA SportsCar Championship’s GTD category for AF Corse’s #21 Ferrari 296 GT3.
Meanwhile Albert Costa claimed GTD Pro pole position at the wheel of the #34 Conquest Racing Ferrari, thus marking a double Ferrari pole position in the two GTD classes.
“I think was a great session for Ferrari actually,” said Pier Guidi in the post-qualifying press conference.
“We score the pole. It’s [a] good comeback after Daytona, that was quite tough.
“… I went for prep lap to put the tyre in. I think that was the key to have the perfect lap.
“We worked well with Ferrari since yesterday morning where the car was looking strong since FP1.
“We just did a few changes on the setup to adjust everything.
“… for Ferrari, it is a great day… Last year we were really strong.
“This year we struggled a bit. We work hard to come back. We prepare in the weekend as best as we could.
“In the end I think the work paid off.
“Of course, it’s just a pole position of a 12-hour [race]. Still a long way to go.
“I always prefer to start in the front, though… in Sebring is not easy to overtake.
“Good to start without the traffic in the front row,” he reflected as one of a handful of professional drivers undertaking qualifying duties in GTD.
Both of the GTD categories will start separately with the GTD Pro field in front of the GTD class as Pier Guidi will lead the latter at lights out.
