Gustavo Menezes and Norman Nato have captured pole position for Rebellion Racing for the Total Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, while United Autosports dominated proceedings in LMP2.
Menezes set the pace initially with a best time of 01:59:342 in the #1 Rebellion R13-Gibson. Nato then took over and posted a 01:59:813 of his own to set an average time of 01:59:577 to take pole, making them the only pairing to dip below the two minute mark.
That time was 0.840s quicker than the average time of 02:00:417 that Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley set in the #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid and just under 1,5 seconds faster than the best average of Mike Conway and Norman Nato in the sister #7 Toyota.
Oliver James Webb and Tom Dillmann posted the fourth fastest time for ByKolles, putting together an average of 02:01:907 in the #4 ENSO CLM P1/01-Gibson
Di Resta and Hanson dominate
United Autosports took a dominant pole position in LMP2. Paul di Resta opened with a strong 02:01:888 in the #22 United Autosports ORECA 07-Gibson before handing over to Phil Hanson, whose 02:02:409 put together an average lap of 02:02:148.
Their nearest challengers, Anthony Davidson and Roberto Gonzalez, posted a best time of 02:03:697 in the #38 JOTA ORECA 07-Gibson, which was over 1,5 seconds slower.
Third place went to the #42 Cool Racing ORECA 07-Gibson of Nicolas Lapierre and Antonin Borga, while Jackie Chan DC Racing took a commendable fourth with Will Stevens and Ryan Cullen. Cullen was only able to complete a handful of laps in the disrupted final practice ahead of qualifying.
The Irish driver has been drafted in to replace Gabriel Aubry, who is self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19. The pair posted a best average time of 02:04:198. The top five was completed by the Signatech Alpine Elf squad.
Many drivers struggled with track limits on the Belgian asphalt, with many drivers having laps deleted. Racing Team Nederland’s Job van Uitert was not able to set a quick time in the #29 Racing Team Nederland ORECA. The Dutch squad faces the prospect of starting from the very back of the grid.
Eurasia Motorsport’s Nobu Yamanaka also struggled with track limits, but in a different manner, as he spun the #35 Ligier JS P217-Gibson at the Bus Stop chicane in the closing stages of the session, but was able to continue and set a lap.
