One-Twos All Down the Field in the Penultimate Qualifying of the 2015 Season

The penultimate qualifying for this season saw three of the four classes finishing with one-twos for the respective teams. The championship contenders in class also showed their hand, looking to take their classes by storm in a determined effort to secure the advantage of the pole point today. Only LMP2 finished without a team domination locking out the front row.

Porsche look set to wrap up the constructors title this weekend with a good result and made that even more likely by locking out the front row, now championship leaders in car #17 taking pole but a clear six tenths off the sister car but with a comfortable over a second advantage to the challenging Audis. Business was indeed per usual as the Porsche took pole comfortably with seven minutes of the session left, the #18 wrapping up the front row with three minutes to spare. It has been suggested that Audi felt they had no chance in beating Porsche today in qualifying so opted to save a set of tyres for tomorrow's race (as they did not change tires for the second driver where both Porsches did). Porsche also seemed worried about tyre degradation as both cars simply completed on flying lap per driver before completely backing off and cruising the car home. But, with predictions on a wet start tomorrow, all is to be told of Audi's saving tyre tactic will pull off.

The LMP2 title contenders looked to be stuck mid field as Strakka, Signtech Alpine and Sard Morand #43 fought for provisional pole with their first drivers. Strakka had been fastest in class in FP3 so the fast pace was expected. But it was the second drivers who elevated both G-Drive cars and the KCMG car into the top three. Sam Bird came out to set a 1:51.9 - a time no one else could even compete with, let alone close in on. Nick Tandy did his best to close the average gap but he only managed P2, giving new championship leader's #26 a 13-point lead (including today's pole position point). However, as a result of the collision between KCMG #47 and G-Drive #28 in Fuji, KCMG have picked up a suspended drive through for the race. KCMG have been penalised because the data shows #47 broke a lot earlier than would be expected and so caused the collision. It is understood that this penalty is for the first incident between #47 and #28 which resulted in a puncture, not the collision that took #47 out of the race.

The battle in GTE Pro was between the Porsche #91 and the two AF Corse Ferraris. With #91 currently leading the championship due to AF Corse's appalling show in Fuji, and the two Ferraris looked on a mission to regain the ground they had lost. Another talking point before the session even started was the absence of Aston Martin's #95. It is understood that the team decided not to bring the car to Shanghai and it is unknown whether or not they will show for the last round in Bahrain. But it was AF Corse who stole the session, domination from the off and producing a solid one-two finish. Porsche #91 ended the session fifth in class which caused more celebration for the Ferrari runners. It appeared that none of the Porsches were trying very hard in this session as none of them really set highly competitive times. It could be the same case as Audi in LMP1 and they could have been focusing on tactics for tomorrow - they also did not change tyres as they changed drivers.

GTE Am saw a one-two for Aston Martin, with #98 snatching pole from #96 in the closing few seconds of the session. The drivers of the #50 Corvette continued their good qualifying from Fuji, taking third in class. The Porsche poor for seemed to cover through both LMGTE classes, as the Am Porsches ended towards the back of the field, with #88 seeming to struggle as it did in Fuji starting right at the back.

With all of the title contenders in class starting close to each other it's looking to be a fairly exciting race. With the unpredictable weather already threatening a wet start strategy will play a key role in the winners and losers of the race - as will tyre degradation. Audi have been better at making their tyres last longer than Porsche and Toyota all season, so that could change the outcome. Or will Porsche's potentially unbeatable pace allow for yet another win and a championship lead extension? Join us right here, 3am GMT where we will deliver hour-by-hour reports as the action unfolds.

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(Image: fiawec.com)

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