The first Pole Position in the LMP2 class of Prema Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship comes at the hands of Mirko Bortolotti, who churned out a super performance in Qualifying to define the starting grid of the 6h of Portimao.
And to think that the 15′ timed session on Saturday afternoon had started with a great thrill for the team from Veneto: with the cars already lined up in the pit lane to enter the track, the mechanics had to rush to the rescue of the Oreca 07-Gibson #63 , which reported a problem with the rear.
The operators moved the car in front of the adjacent garages, fumbling to remove and fix the wing and bonnet again, then allowing Bortolotti to get back on track to assault Pole Position.
Here the Trentino driver put in a fabulous lap right at the end, revealing that it was also the only attempt available with a set of new Goodyear tyres. An aspect that he had already gotten used to when he raced in the DTM last season.
#63 Prema Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson: Doriane Pin, Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
“Several times I’ve had to qualify with just one set of tires to save some for the race, so by now I know how it works!” the Trentino driver smiled after speaking to the journalists present, including Motorsport.com.
“Today we did it, even if it was a nightmare session, which started in the worst way. The situation got worse during Qualifying, but in the end the lap was fantastic.”
Bortolotti outwitted Gabriel Aubry by just one thousandth, who will sprint alongside him at the wheel of the Vector Sport Oreca #10, but with a view to the race, the Lamborghini Squadra Corse driver prefers not to make predictions as the LMP2 grid is always very tight .
“In Sebring we started tenth and then we fought for the win, managing to get on the podium, so it’s difficult to make predictions. The level is so high that everyone is in contention, especially those in front. We know we have a good package , we worked well not only this weekend but also in preparation for the race”.
“We have a strong line-up and team, so I think there are all the ingredients needed to fight for victories and podiums, but every day and every Sunday has its own story, so we’ll have to do our job in the race and see where we will finish”.
“Having said that, I’m really happy and proud of this result, but we’re also talking about a team that needs no introduction. I’m delighted to be part of this new adventure with them, who are only in their second season in the WEC, so still quite young for the series. It’s great to start this collaboration like this.”
#63 Prema Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson: Doriane Pin, Mirko Bortolotti, Daniil Kvyat
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Shortly after the end of the timed qualifying, however, a communication arrived from the race direction, intent on investigating the work of the mechanics in the aforementioned stages.
In fact, article 12.1.2 of the WEC Sporting Regulations prohibits intervening on the cars outside the area foreseen for the teams, but luckily for Prema only a fine of €1,000 arrived, leaving Pole to Bortolotti, who together with Doriane Pin and Daniil Kvyat will therefore be able to fight for success.
“Car 63’s mechanics removed the rear bodywork in the acceleration lane before the start of the Qualifying session. They then fixed the part and moved the car to the work area where they began the repairs,” reads the official document. .
“This was not done in the designated work area, but as the team garage was at the opposite end of the pit lane, the stewards agreed that they could impede other competitors if they pushed the car for the length of the pit lane. The car then left the pits and immediately returned to the track in the assigned work space, where it completed the repairs.”
#63 Prema Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson: Mirko Bortolotti
Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Among other decisions by the stewards, there are three positions back on the grid for the United Autosports #22, guilty with Phil Hanson of having hindered the Prema #9 during the session by slowing excessively in turns 1-2 as the second Oreca of the Italian team.
Thus United slipped behind Jota #48, Inter Europol Competition #34 and United #23, dropping from 3rd to 6th place.
FIA WEC – 6h of Portimao: Prema decision #63
FIA WEC – 6h of Portimao: United Autosports decision #22
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