The Swiss driver posted the fastest lap of the 15-minute session in the final minute with a 1m31.140, 0.423s ahead of the rest of the field.
QUALIFYING
Estaban Masson was challenging for the pole in the no29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca but ended the session in third place when Alex Lynn leapt up the order to put the no25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca on the front row with a 1m31.563, just 0.043s ahead of Masson.
The two IDEC Sport Orecas finished in 4th and 5th place, with Job Van Uitert in the no28 car claiming the second row start with a 1m31.770, two tenths ahead of his teammate Valerio Rinicella in the no18 Oreca-Gibson. Vlad Lomko put the no10 Vector Sport Oreca on row three with a 1m32.090 lap.
The extra point for pole position has put United Autosports 14-points ahead of Forestier Racing by Panis and the British team just need to finish in 4th place or higher to secure their first ELMS LMP2 title since 2020.
LMP2 Pro/Am: Jean Glorieux Takes Debut ELMS Pole
Former MLMC LMP3 Champion Jean Glorieux secured his first ELMS pole position and will start the 4 Hours of Portimão at the head of the 12-car LMP2 Pro/Am field. The Belgian driver posted a 1m33.057s lap to claim provisional pole position with 4-minutes left on the clock, which he held to the chequered flag despite a determined challenge by Giorgio Roda in the no30 Duqueine Team Oreca. Roda’s lap was 1m33.323, 0.266s behind Glorieux.
Row two will be headed by the no20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca of Michael Jensen, the Dane holding provisional pole but losing out to the two cars ahead of him. Jensen’s time of 1m33.482 was 0.256s ahead Silverstone winner Steven Thomas in the no14 TDS Racing Oreca.
Championship leader François Perrodo finished the 15-minute qualifying session in 9th place, the no83 AF Corse lapping in 1m34.446, 1.389s off the pole sitters times.
LMP3: CLX Motorsport Take A Step Close to Retaining LMP3 Crown
Championship leaders CLX Motorsport secured an extra championship point when Louis Iglesias took pole position for the 4 Hours of Portimão, the third pole of the season for the French driver. Iglesias posted the provisional pole time five times, finishing the 15-minute session with a 1m38.835, 0.289s ahead of the no5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier of Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen.
Henry Cubides Olarte made a bid for the top spot but finished the session in 3rd spot in the no13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier with a 1m39.455, 0.620s behind the pole sitter and 0.114s ahead of Pierre-Alexandre Provost in the no85 R-ace GP Duqueine.
The extra point has extended CLX Motorsports championship lead over R-ace GP to 10-points, and the Swiss team need to finish 3rd or better to guarantee retaining their LMP3 title in tomorrow’s race.
LMGT3: Al-Khelaifi Claims Fourth Pole of 2026 Season
Championship leader Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi claimed his fourth pole position of the 2026 European Le Mans Series, extending his championship lead to four points ahead of tomorrow’s 4 Hours of Portimão. The Silverstone race winner posted a 1m43.151 lap early in the 15-minute session in the no62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG and held the top spot until the chequered flag.
Clément Mateu will start on the front row in the no59 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage, the French driver’s time of 1m43.213 just 0.062s behind the no62 Mercedes-AMG. However, an outstanding penalty for Mateu from the 4 Hours of Imola in July will drop the no59 Aston Martin 5 grid places (Stewards Decision no50)
This moves the no75 Proton Competition Porsche of Matt Kurzejewski onto the front row after the American posted 1m43.343, 0.148 ahead of Takeshi Kimura in the no57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 LMGT3 EVO, which will now start in third with the no74 Kessel Racing Ferrari alongside..
Blake McDonald in the no33 TF Sport Corvette will start in 5th, 0.485s behind his championship rival on pole position, with the no59 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage now in 6th.
The 4 Hours of Portimão, Round 6 of the 2026 European Le Mans Series, will start at 14h30 on Saturday 10 October.
