Porsche Complete Unbroken Run Of Pole Positions

Nov 20, 2015
4 min read

Porsche completed an undefeated streak of obtaining pole position in 2015 as #17 Porsche takes the front spot on the grid for tomorrow’s six-hour finale. This puts the German team in the best position to claim the Driver’s World Title after they clinched the Constructor’s a race early last time out in China. The Championship fights are looking to light up tomorrow after qualifying has been completed. Signatech Alpine got in the way of the LMP2 battle as it took pole from championship-competing KCMG, holding the point advantage from both the Hong Kong outlet and championship rivals #26 G-Drive. Reining World Champions #51 AF Corse have made the best possible start to trying to beat the #91 GTE Pro team by stealing pole position in class. The Am class will be lead by Aston Martin #98, with Championship leader’s SMP Racing Ferrari #72 joining them on the front row.

It was business per usual for the LMP1 cars as Porsche took to the track, obliterating the previous track record. Audi just didn’t have an answer as both Porsche and Audi took to the pits with seven minutes left on the clock, having finished their running. With Porsche’s dominance in qualifying this season there just seemed to be nothing anyone could do to stop the German team from taking the front spot at each race. It is an impressive record that only in their second year back in the sport they have held this much dominance the day before race day. With the extra pole position point, this puts #17 thirteen points ahead of championship rivals Audi #7. Porsche #17 now have to finish forth or above in tomorrow’s race to take the crown. If they finish forth they will tie on points with Audi #7 but because of their better finishes and more wins within the season it would see them win the Championship. In only their second year back for Porsche to win the double in championships would be an amazing achievement.

LMP2 Championship hopes for #47 KCMG were stifled a little as Signatech Alpine took the pole position point. This means that going into the final race the Hong Kong team are sixteen points behind #26 G-Drive Racing. For KCMG to come away with the title today #26 need to have a poor race come tomorrow. #26 start P3, just behind the KCMG car and will be looking to swap those positions around as soon as possible. It is G-Drive’s title to loose tomorrow. Although #28 cannot win the Driver’s title anymore it can still end the season runner-up to their teammates and will be looking to do so. #28 start behind their teammates tomorrow and will be helping out the championship leaders to make sure KCMG cannot optimise on any mishaps that may potentially happen.

The LMGTE classes had an interesting start to qualifying as the flood lights lighting the dark circuit all turned off just three minutes into the session. The session was red flagged and the lights turned back on after a twenty-minute delay. The cars are equipped to race in the dark but, as the race is not intended to be in the dark (thanks to the flood lights) marshal posts are not lit in a necessary way for ‘night’ racing. This means that the marshal posts are not visible when the track is dark, so the safety of the race was put into jeopardy. AF Corse #51 took pole in the Pro class, gaining a point on championship-leading Porsche #91. It is the #71 AF Corse that is closer points wise to the Porsche but, like #26 G-Drive, the point advantage is so great for the Porsche that it is Porsche’s to loose. On the flip side, pole position for #51 is just what AF Corse needs to help secure the Constructor’s title that will also be determined in tomorrow’s race.

The GTE Am class saw an interesting turn out as Aston Martin #98 took pole. The Aston Martin’s have been returning to the form they started the season with in the past few races which has lead to them being more featured in the races. Sadly for them the damage has already been done in terms of the championship as it is a straight Ferrari vs Ferrari battle for the crown. Things have severely gone in leader #72 SMP Racing’s way as title rivals #83 were excluded from qualifying yesterday for not managing to complete flying laps with both drivers to set an average time. This sees #72 starting P2 in class with #83 at the back of the field with it all to fight for. Porsche #77 nearly fell to the same faith as they put off their second driver’s flying lap to the last few minutes of the session. Patrick Dempsey is missing the last round of the season as filming commitments have kept him in London. Christian Ried takes his place alongside Patrick Long for the final race. They qualified fourth for tomorrow’s race.