ILMC/ LMS, Imola – GT Qualifying

There was a 5 minute delay to the start of the 20 minute GT Qualifying session but at 2pm we were underway in bright sunshine and rising temperatures.

First flying lap of the session came from Nicolas Armindo – 1:46.510 in the #67 IMSA Performance ‘Am’ Porsche – ahead of the first batch of Pro contenders, Fred Mako coming around a hundredth of a second shy of the Porsche’s mark in the #59 Luxury 458, but leapfrogging the #67 next time around with a 1:45.178 as Armindo was baulked by a slower car.

Sam Hancock popped up in second with the Jota Aston but was soon pipped by Ralph Firman in the #58 Luxury 458.

Pat Long then took control of the Am class battle – 1:46.114 in the #63 Felbermayer Porsche, improving to a 1:45.650, second fastest overall next time around.

Mako improved too next time around but was immediately bettered by Jorg Muller in the #55 BMW – 1:44.71, then a 44.468 next time around.

Pilet’s first effort in the #76 Porsche was good enough for third fastest – 10 minutes remaining, with Farnbacher popping into fourth with the Hankook Ferrari before being demoted a place by Fisichella in the #51 AF corse 458.

Farnbacher improved again though but immediately saw Dirk Werner in the #56 BMW go ahead of him into third, Fisichella too improving to fourth.

Muller had pitted by now and Lietz was on a charge – up to third, into the 44s in the #77 Porsche, Rob Bell also now into the reckoning, fifth in the JMW Ferrari.

Cioci had by now leapfrogged Armindo to sit second in the Am class. 1:45.906 for the #61 AF Corse 430.

Jaime Melo was the next major improver, up into second with a 1:44.691, 5 minutes remaining.  The front row though was soon looking like a BMW lock out as  Werner grabbed second – 1:44.683, Melo’s next effort failed to dent that mark.

Rob Bell though improved to fifth on his next lap to make it a Ferrari 3,4,5. as both BMWs pitted – Any challenge left anywhere with 2 minutes remaining?  Marco Holzer in the Prospeed Porsche looked like the only man capable of a substantial improvement as the seconds ticked down, the #75 car down in 11th – but the car pitted as an improvement looked possible – it wasn’t going to trouble the front row though – BMW performing faultlessly as they look to sweep away their disappointments at Le Mans and the Nurburgring.