Josh Caygill headed the first LMGT3 front-row knockout in the final FIA World Endurance Championship qualifying session of 2024 in Bahrain.
United Autosports’ McLaren 720S LMGT3 EVOs headed the 18-car LMGT3 field at the end of class’ maiden season.
Caygill of the #95 McLaren denied his teammate glory towards United’s first WEC pole position since last year’s 8 Hours of Bahrain (LMP2).
It was an exciting shoot-out for the season finale on Saturday 2 November, the 8 Hours of Bahrain.
Despite the ideal conditions, drivers carefully and consistently built up their pace, tyre and brake temperatures.
Track limits at the 14-turn Bahrain International Circuit meant that drivers were under pressure to make their laps count.
The top-10 was the clear target during the initial 12-minute Q1 session, where the drivers fought for a spot in Hyperpole.
Josh Caygill of the #95 United Autosports McLaren 720S LMGT3 set a strong early benchmark to easily put himself in Q2.
Corvette – for the second consecutive time – along with McLaren and Ferrari were the only manufacturers with both cars into Q2.
Meanwhile both WRT BMW M4 LMGT3s will start 12th and 13th for the eighth and final race of 2024.
READ MORE: Toyota lock out front row in Bahrain, Hartley claims pole
McLaren comfortably on top in Hyperpole
During the 10-minute Q2 session, the margins were close not only for pole position but also on rest of the order.
Both United Autosports McLarens were immediately at the top of the leaderboard with James Cottingham (#59 McLaren) ahead of Caygill.
Although, Caygill eventually denied the honour for the 2023 British GT vice-champion by a marginal 0.002 of a second.
Caygill’s lap time was a 2:02.201 and Cottingham’s was a 2:02.203.
Francois Heriau took third place in the #55 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 with a 2:02.367.
Sarah Bovy of the #85 Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 EVO2 was a clear contender as she chased her third pole position this season.
She took fourth after setting a 2:02.636 ahead of Alex Malykhin’s #92 Manthey PureRxing Porsche 911 LMGT3.R.
The #92 driver set a 2:02.720 ahead of Heart of Racing’s team principal Ian James, who did a 2:02.949.
Thomas Flohr finished seventh in the #54 AF Corse Ferrari with his 2:03.033 lap time.
Tom Van Rumpuy took eighth (2:03.125) in TF Sport’s #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R in front of #82 teammate Hiroshi Koizumi (2:03.176).
Arnold Robin rounded off the top-10 in the #78 Akkodis ASP Lexus RC F LMGT3 after he set a 2:03.269.
The race will commence at 2pm local time tomorrow or 11am GMT.
