top the GTE Am timesheets just as stablemates Richie Stanaway and Marco Sorensen lay down the gauntlet in GTE Pro during the first few laps.
The number 67 Ford continued its woes with a spin at turn 16 – clouting the barrier but able to continue on its way. Nicki Thiim and Darren Turner took over for Stanaway and Sorensen and continues to dominate Pro, with just a tenth between them ahead of the AF Corse 488 of James Calado and Gianmaria Bruni.
Sam Bird was circumspect about the altitude power deficit between Aston Martin and Ferrari, saying “it was impossible to catch the Astons. There’s daylight between us.”
Paul Dalla Lana took GTE Am honors alongside Pedro Lamy ahead of Khaled Al Qubaisi and David Heinemeier Hansson in the Abu Dhabi Proton Racing 911 RSR.
Home heroes RGR were ecstatic with their LMP2 pole however, with Senna describing just how hard-fought his lap was.
“My lap was not quite a second faster unfortunately but it was a good lap" explained Senna.
"This is the type of qualifying that I really enjoy when you can attack with low fuel and new tyres.
Really I pushed very hard and I didn’t know what the No.26 car had in the tank. Yesterday they were so close to us and they were really quick.
It paid off and I didn’t go into the wall anywhere – so happy days!”