Molina starts 3rd in Portimao, Toyota takes pole position and Peugeot battles Porsche

This Sunday is the second date of fighting the world in Portimao (Portugal), the 6 hours from Portimao, where the Ferrari 499P Hypercar from catalan Miguel Molina and his companions Antonio Fuoco and Nicklas Nielsen starting from third position after a qualifying where Toyota showed total dominance with a one-two finish to start. The Ferrari of mill was able to surprise at the first pole of the course at Sebring, but on Sunday the Toyotas prevailed, with the red car #50 in third place. But in this second appointment, the Japanese did not leave even the crumbs. The number 8 Toyota of Hartley, Buemi and Hirakawa took the pole ahead of its ‘brother’, the number 7 of Conway, Kobayashi and ‘Pechito’ López and both are favorites to fight for victory this Sunday (1:00 pm).

The Asians clearly prevailed in one turn. Pole position for number 8, by Brendon Hartley, was 1’30″171, beating the #7 Toyota driven by Kobayashi by 0″273. Ferrari moved away. The #50 driven by Nielsen set a time 1″425 slower, in third place, beating the #51 Ferrari driven by James Calado (1″752 from the lead). Porsche Penske #6 will start from 5th place, with Estre at the controls finishing 2″233 behind the best. In sixth position, fighting closely with Porsche, is one of the two Peugeots, number 94 driven by Nico Müller, 2 “346 behind the best, but only a thousand from fifth place.

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This Sunday, the two Toyotas are gearing up for another intense battle between their two crews, where any setback could change things at any moment. Miguel Molina and his teammates will be looking for their second podium of the season and will take advantage of any option against the Japanese.

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Peugeot, key test

For its part, after the technical problems suffered by Peugeot on an asphalt as complex and difficult as Sebring, its aim should be to finish both cars and continue with the forward step to prepare in the best possible way for the 9X8 its for the big event of the year, the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at home, in front of its audience. El León wants to roar to the top again, but first he needs an adaptation process for his new car. For now, the first claws it will need to take this weekend are in the area of ​​reliability, an important step to continue growing.

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Albert Costa, 5th in LMP2

Another Catalan participant in the World Endurance Championship is Albert Costa, in the WEC silver category, in LMP2. The man from Barcelona shone in the first ‘qualification’ of the year with fourth place on a track as bumpy as Sebring, and after failing to do a clean lap in all of Free Practice 3 this Saturday, he got his #34 car in 5th position.

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Classification session times

6 Hours of Portimao (WEC)

Hypercars:
1. Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa Toyota GR010 – Hybrid HYPERCAR 1’30.171
2. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, ‘Pechito’ López Toyota GR010 – Hybrid HYPERCAR at 0.273
3. Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen
Ferrari 499P HYPERCAR at 1,425
4. Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Ferrari 499P HYPERCAR at 1,752
5. Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer, Laurens Vanthoor
Porsche 963 HYPERCAR at 2,233
6. Loic Duval, Gustavo Menezes, Nico Muller
Peugeot 9X8 HYPERCAR at 2,346
7. Dane Cameron, Michael Christensen, Frederic Makowiecki Porsche 963 HYPERCAR at 2,389