Lexus lights it up again in LMGT3 in Bahrain

The Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC Fs looked rapid throughout the two-part session around Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), progressing comfortably through the opening phase in second and fifth places before Gehrsitz posted two laps faster than any of his rivals proved able to muster in the top ten Hyperpole shootout to secure a second career pole in FIA WEC, having similarly topped the timesheets at Spa-Francorchamps back in May. 

“Everything needs to come together perfectly here to produce a good time, but we arrived feeling really well-prepared and worked hard throughout free practice,” commented the 21-year-old German, only the third driver to claim multiple LMGT3 poles in FIA WEC. “That paid off and I was able to put in an incredible lap – and I think we also have a car to fight for the podium and the win. We’re ready to give it our all!”

Gehrsitz ultimately ended up just shy of a third-of-a-second ahead of fellow young gun Lorcan Hanafin, as Iron Lynx sewed up the next two spots with its pair of Mercedes-AMGs. The Briton was backed up by stablemate Lin Hodenius – another rising star of the discipline – with Clemens Schmid completing the symmetry by placing the sister Lexus fourth.

In terms of the championship contenders, there were – as in Hypercar – varying fortunes. Simon Mann wound up eighth in the #21 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari 296 he shares with Alessio Rovera and François Hériau, with the trio aiming to overturn the 11-point gap that currently separates them from Manthey in the Drivers’ classification.

The German squad ended up a lowly 17th as Ryan Hardwick struggled to extract much speed from the Porsche 911 GT3 R – last season’s title-winner – around the 5.412km lap, with Tom Van Rompuy not far ahead in 14th in TF Sport’s #81 Corvette Z06, the only other car that can still clinch the coveted crown. 

Tomorrow’s Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain will get underway at 14:00 local time (12:00 CET). 

Results are HERE