In a spectacular display of speed and strategy, Brendon Hartley and #8 Toyota GR010 HYBRID claimed pole position for the 2024 WEC 8H Bahrain as the Japanese manufacturer locked out the front-row in a bid to beat Porsche to the title.
The qualifying sessions for WEC 8H Bahrain, held on November 1st showcased the team’s commitment to clinching the manufacturers’ title against fierce competition from Porsche and Ferrari.
As the sun set over Bahrain International Circuit, conditions were nearly perfect for racing. The temperatures had cooled to a comfortable 28 degrees Celsius, providing an ideal environment for teams to push their cars to their limits.
The qualifying format consisted of two parts: an initial session where all competitors had the opportunity to set their best times, followed by a Hyperpole shootout featuring the top ten fastest cars. This structure heightened the anticipation and excitement among teams and fans alike.
In the first twelve-minute qualifying session, Nyck de Vries in the No. 7 Toyota GR010 HYBRID topped the timesheets early on, showcasing his skill and setting a solid foundation for his team.
De Vries’ impressive performance allowed him to advance directly into Hyperpole, where he would contend for pole position alongside his teammate Brendon Hartley in the No. 8 car.
Hartley, however, faced challenges during this initial session and finished fourth overall which set up a dramatic turnaround in Hyperpole.
When it came time for Hyperpole, Brendon Hartley delivered an outstanding performance that would ultimately secure him pole position with a blistering lap time of 1:46.714 minutes. His teammate de Vries followed closely behind, clocking in at 1:47.037 minutes to complete Toyota’s front-row lockout.
This marked Hartley’s third consecutive pole position for WEC 8H Bahrain and underscored Toyota’s historical success at the venue, where they have won approximately 75% of all WEC races held there. The Kiwi expressed his gratitude towards his team and teammates after securing pole position.
“Big thanks to my teammates for trusting me to do qualifying,” he stated. “We had a tough day yesterday, but we changed a few things today and turned it around.”
Hartley also acknowledged that while he didn’t quite get the tire temperatures right during the initial qualifying session, he learned from that experience and executed a flawless lap during Hyperpole when it mattered most.
However, the competitive landscape was fierce with Antonio Giovinazzi in the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 499P finishing third overall, just missing out on a front-row start by a mere 0.043 seconds. Giovinazzi’s performance highlighted Ferrari’s competitive edge as they aimed to challenge Toyota’s dominance throughout the race weekend.
Neel Jani in the Proton Competition Porsche 963 claimed fourth place in an impressive showing for an independent team. Jani’s strong performance was particularly notable as he adapted quickly to fresh tires and low fuel conditions during his qualifying run.
The fifth position went to Antonio Fuoco in the sister Ferrari 499P entry (#50), while Kévin Estre qualified sixth in the championship-leading No. 6 Porsche 963. Estre’s performance was strategic; he and his teammates only need an eighth-place finish in the race to secure the drivers’ title, adding an intriguing layer to Saturday’s race dynamics.
As for other notable performances during qualifying, Matt Campbell finished seventh in the Porsche Penske entry (#5), while Norman Nato in the Hertz Team JOTA Porsche took eighth place. The top ten was rounded out by Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns driving BMW M Hybrid V8s.
Meanwhile Cadillac failed to make the Hyperpole cut in the V-Series.R’s final outing in the hands of Chip Ganassi Racing, as Alex Lynn ended up 13th-fastest in first qualifying.
Alpine’s best qualifier was the No. 35 A424 of Ferdinand Habsburg in 14th, followed by Paul di Resta in the best of the Peugeot 9X8s and Daniil Kvyat’s Lamborghini SC63.
The LMGT3 class also witnessed intense competition with United Autosports securing a front-row lockout through drivers Josh Caygill and James Cottingham in their McLaren 720S GT3 Evos. Caygill’s pole position lap time of 2:02.201 was particularly noteworthy as it marked a significant achievement for United Autosports with McLaren machinery.
Third was Francois Heriau in the No. 55 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, 0.166 seconds off the pace, followed by Sarah Bovy’s Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 as the No. 92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R of Alex Malykhin locked out the top five.
Ian James seized the advantage in the battle for second in the LMGT3 standings by qualifying sixth in the Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
The atmosphere at Bahrain International Circuit was electric as fans gathered to witness this pivotal moment in WEC history. The spectacle of night racing at Bahrain has always been a highlight in motorsport calendars, offering dramatic visuals and heightened excitement.
As teams prepare for the WEC 8H Bahrain race scheduled for November 2nd at 14:00 local time (12:00 CET), all eyes are on Toyota as they seek to convert their qualifying success into a race victory that could crown them champions once again.
READ MORE: Jean-Eric Vergne puts Peugeot on top in third practice for 2024 WEC 8H Bahrain
