ALMS, Laguna Seca – Qualifying Report
Brabham Bounces Back

With theLMP2 manufacturer’s title still up for grabs, David Brabham led the Acura charge when he placed the Patrón Highcroft Racing ARX-01B on pole in California.

Putting the team’s disastrous PLM behind him, the Australian was in dominant form during the red-flag interrupted session, setting the two fastest times; “It was both mine and the team’s goal to get pole position here today,” he said. “It’s great to come back and take pole after the problems of the last round. The team is really strong but it’s still great for morale and I’m really pleased for all the guys. We had to really work to get the car to where we wanted it for qualifying and we have made a couple of set up changes that we will try out in warm up tomorrow morning. We’ve got a strong race car but anyone starting in the top six has a chance of winning, so it’s going to be a great battle. With Patrón Highcroft moving to LMP1 with Acura for next year, it’s fantastic to clinch the last overall pole position of the season. To follow that up with an overall win tomorrow would certainly top off the year.”

Three of the next four fastest cars were also Acuras, Luis Diaz leaving it to the final moments of the session to place the #15 Lowe’s Fernandez car alongside the Highcroft machine on the front row.  “The team did a great job today in giving me a really good car,” said the Mexican. “It was fantastic even on older tires at the end of the session. I was very pleased and I am happy for David [Brabham]. He did a great job but I think our car was quicker than that. On the last run, the tires were not as clean so I think that is what cost us the pole. Adrian did a great job in setting up the car before my practice session and I think that was part of the good car I had. We also found a small problem we were having with the brakes and that will put us back in the fight again. The race is going to be tough but knowing you have a competitive car going in is great. I think the key tomorrow is for me to bring the car to Adrian complete and I know he will do the job. I am very confident. I was able to run close to the Penskes and I think our car is stronger here. If we have a clean race tomorrow, we will do well.”

Timo Bernhard was at the wheel of the #7 Porsche as it set third fastest – and a Porsche will need to finish on the podium to win the manufacturer title – alongside Gil de Ferran’s #66 Acura. The top seven cars were separated by just 0.503s, illustrating just how close this contest is likely to be.

In probably his final race for Audi (see separate story), Emanuele Pirro took the LMP1 pole with 1:11.264, in the #1 R10 that he is sharing with Christijan Albers; who is just beginning his Audi sportscar career.

The sister Audi was second in P1, but Johnny Mowlem took third for the Corsa Zytek in his first-ever prototype qualifying session; "The team told me I needed to get into the 12's so I'm pleased I managed to give them that!" said Mowlem, "Having said that, I'm never happy, because I lost five tenths on that lap with traffic through Turn 9, which
would have put us even closer to the works Audis."

Jan Magnussen outgunned Oliver Gavin by almost half a second in the latest installment of the never-ending Corvette rivalry, the Dane claiming GT1 pole with 1:19.291 to line up on the ninth row with his team mate and breaking the lap record on the way; "I pushed really, really hard – and it was our best lap ever!" he reported. "My fast lap came early in my qualifying run, so I could afford to gamble a little and go for it. If it didn't work out, I knew I could have another go.

"I didn't have any traffic, and not too many guys had been over the curbs, so there wasn't a lot of dust dragged onto the track. Then on my last lap I had a huge moment. A GT2 car had gone straight through the Corkscrew and dragged a lot of dirt onto the track. My crew chief called me on the radio and told me to keep the car straight – and when I drove through the dirt, I went completely sideways one way and then completely sideways the other way."

In GT2, Dirk Werner also broke the lap record as he claimed his and Farnbacher Loles’ second pole position of the season; "It's a great beginning for an important weekend for us," said the German. "We're really looking to get a good result here after a disappointing race at Road Atlanta. So far, everything seems to be really good. The car works perfect, the guys did a really good job in preparing it and I'm optimistic because Bryce is really doing well on this track with the RSR. I think we have to be optimistic because there is not a lot that can bother us – the car is fast, the teamwork is good and we're in good shape."

His 1:22.060 was thee tenths quicker than Jörg Bergmeister’s best in the #45 Flying Lizard Porsche, while behind these two would line up the #71 Tafel Racing Ferrari – Dominik Farnbacher celebrating his signing for another year with third - and the #46 Lizard; this being a replacement chassis for the car comprehensively trashed during the PLM and which could not be repaired in time for this race.

The only car not to participate in qualifying was the ECO Racing Radical, which had suffered an oil line leak and also clutch problems.