Blancpain Endurance Series, Navarra - Pre-Qualifying Report With McLaren GT completing a full test programme at the Circuito de Navarra in 2011,collecting tons of data on the Spanish circuit and the McLaren getting a 20kg weight break for the final round of the season, nobody was surprised to see the Hexis Racing McLaren MP4-12C GT3 top the timesheets on Saturday. In the Pre-Qualifying session on Saturday afternoon it was Fred Makowiecki who was fastest with a time of 1:37.619. The French driver was over six tenths of a second quicker than the second fastest car, the Gulf Racing UK McLaren MP4-12C GT3 of Rob Bell. Championship contenders Belgian Audi Club Team WRT finished the day in third, with Stéphane Ortelli lapping the Navarra track just 0.007s slower than Bell. Makowiecki not only posted the fastest lap time of the session, he was also responsible for bringing out a red flag after spinning - due to a traction control issue - and having to be towed back from a dangerous position. Makowiecki was back out quickly and went on to set the fastest lap time. The Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4 GT3 of Maxime Martin, Bas Leinders and Markus Palttala ended the Pre-Qualifying session in 14th position, 1.315s slower than the time set by Makowiecki and five places behind the teams second car, in which Nick Catsburg was the fastest driver. ProSpeed Competition, winner at the Nurburgring, suffered several minor problems today and eventually the number 75 Porsche finished the day in 23rd overall.
Second-fastest in Pro-Am, behind the Gulf Racing McLaren, was the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 of Jack Gerber and Marco Cioci. Cioci was nine tenths of a second slower than Makowiecki. Pro GT by Almeras driver Anthony Beltoise was third fastest. Championship leaders Louis Machiels and Niek Hommerson only managed to set the 17th fastest time, seventh in class, one place behind the Vita4One Team Italy Ferrari. Should they finish in this order in tomorrow’s race Machiels and Hommerson will win the Pro-Am title by a single point.
The three Gentlemen Trophy were 38th, 39th and 40th, with points leader Pierre Hirschi setting the fastest time in the Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS. The Sainteloc Racing Audi needs to finish to clinch the title in the Gentlemen Trophy. After today’s perfect weather conditions with the sun shining bright and the temperature over 20ºC, the forecast for tomorrow is less positive. Rain is expected, although some weather reports are predicting the rain to arrive after the race has finished. MtC / images: Brecht Decancq Photography | 
