Photo: Paren Raval
Mike Conway andJosé María López put the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota TS050-Hybrid on pole position for Sunday August 19’s Six Hours of Silverstone, Round Three of the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Super Season’.
Conway pushed hard in the opening qualifying stint in the #7 entry, resulting in some interesting moments for Sevenoaks, Kent-based driver. However he held on to put in a 1:36.769 before handing over to Lopez who consolidated the effort with a 1:36.769.
Conway was delighted at the qualifying outcome but admitted he had probably pushed too hard at the start of his stint.
“It wasn’t the best start,” said Conway. “I tried to be a bit greedy on the first lap and had a moment coming in to the last corner. I knew at that point I was going to be down a tenth or two and then in Turn Four I had another moment so I knew I had to save the tyres and go again. Luckily the tyres were still there. It was a pretty decent lap. I let a bit on the table with so many laps being deleted with track limits – I tried to be careful there – but Jose jumped in and did a mega lap as well. It was a good start. The car was quick in practice so it’s good for tomorrow.”
Teammate López also enjoyed the session but is firmly focused on the race.
“We are very happy to be on pole but the main objective is to win the race tomorrow,” said Lopez. “It’s always hard in a six-hour race to be in front but we will see. Qualy was good. I was a bit nervous when Mike went off on the first lap but he put in a good lap and then he left it to me. I was very happy with my lap. It’s good to to start from the front but it’s a long race so we will see tomorrow.”
Pole position in the LMP2 class went to the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA 07 crew of Jazeman Jaafer and Nabil Jeffri, in the car they share with Ho-Pin Tung with an average qualifying time of 1.44:896.
LMGTE Pro pole went to the #66 Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK Ford GT of Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla while the #56 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR of Egido Perfetti, Jörg Bergmeister and Patrick Lindsey.
The lights go out for the Six Hours of Silverstone at 12:00 on Sunday August 19.