LP Racing makes history for Maserati with pole position in France, Krabec doubles up to re-claim Am lead

Leonardo Gorini has given LP Racing a final Fanatec GT2 European Series round of the season to remember by taking a momentous maiden pole position for the new Maserati GT2, on the models’ global racing debut at Circuit Paul Ricard.

Gorini leapt to the top of the timing screens at the half way point before further improving the #12 Maserati’s best lap time to cement his – and the car’s – first Pro-Am pole position by 0.6s, as the sun set over Le Castellet.

Class championship leader by two points heading into the season finale, LP Racing’s Henry Hassid came the closest to challenging for the top spot. He’ll have the best chance of retaining that lead with a start from the first row of the grid for tomorrow morning’s 50-minute encounter.

Akkodis ASP’s Jean-Luc Beaubelique put in another impressive performance to qualify third on his second outing as a Pro-Am entry, following a maiden win at the penultimate round in Spain. Martin Koch’s MZR KTM will line-up alongside in fourth.

Called up at the last-minute to support Stefan Rosina’s title bid in the #15 True Racing KTM, Gilles Vannelet managed fifth fastest. He replaces Nicolas Saelens following his heavy accident in Free Practice this morning.

RTR Projects’ Jan Krabec clocked in a notable sixth overall, taking the Am class pole and an all-important extra championship point in the process. That left the KTM driver level on points with True Racing’s Klaus Angerhofer, who qualified third in class, ninth overall. 

As darkness descended, it was the turn of the Pro drivers to set the grid for the final race of the season, scheduled for late on Saturday afternoon.

Reinhard Kofler rose to that challenge to give the new MZR KTM its first pole position honours by 0.6s, ahead of Benjamin Ricci’s #61 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG.  Stienes Longin brought the PK Carsport Audi home third fastest after topping the order early on in the 20-minute session, while Pierre Kaffer climbed the order to complete the second row in the #18 Audi.

The LP Racing machine headed the team’s four-strong entry, with Mattia di Giusto fifth in the #88, Anthony Beltoise sixth for the #67 and Luca Pirri seventh in the #12 Maserati.

While Krabec dominated the Am order in both sessions, the #89 KTM will have to contend with the #16 True Racing KTM of Sehdi Sarmini and Angerhofer starting right behind him in 11th overall. Series newcomers, NM Racing clocked in third fastest in class thanks to Jakub Knoll’s efforts in the #888 Mercedes-AMG.

The final two Fanatec GT2 European Series races of the season are scheduled for 10:35 and 16:30. Watch the Pro-Am and Am class title fights unfold live via GT World on YouTube.