QUALIFYING
The Italian driver’s first quick lap was lost to track limits but his second, a 2m01.268, was the benchmark for the rest of the 15-minute qualifying session. Several cars were vying for the top spot, with both of the Inter Europol Competition Orecas and the no22 United Autosports all trying to find a few tenths to catch the leading car.
At the chequered flag Rinicella’s earlier time had proven to be enough, with Tom Dillmann in the no43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca posting a 2m01.422, 0.154s off the pole time and 0.065s ahead of Gregoire Saucy in the no22 United Autosports Oreca.
The no34 Inter Europol Competition Oreca of Reshad de Gerus secured the second spot on Row 2, with Jake Hughes in the no25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca and Esteban Masson in the no29 Forestier Racing by Panis on Row 3, with less than six tenths splitting the top six cars at the chequered flag.
LMP2 Pro/Am: Roda Secures Third Pole of 2026 Season
The no30 Duqueine Team will start on pole position for the third time this season, finishing the 15-minute session almost one second ahead of the rest of the 12-car field. The Italian’s best lap of 2m03.578 was 0.944s in front of Jean Glorieux in the no3 DKR Engineering Oreca, the Belgian driver trying to close the gap to the Duqueine Team Oreca but ultimately unable to do so.
Round 3 winner Jens Reno Møller put in a 2m04.583 lap in the final minute of the session to put the no7 Vector Sport Oreca at the head of Row 2, just ahead of John Falb in the no19 Rossa Racing by Virage. Reigning champions AO by TF will start on row 3 after PJ Hyett finished in 5th spot with a 2m04868.
LMP3: Four-way Battle Sees R-ace GP Take Pole in Spa
The no85 R-ace GP Duqueine will start the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from pole position after a session long four-way battle with the no4 DKR Engineering, no8 Team Virage and no17 CLX Motorsport.
Pierre-Alexandre Provost made a bid for pole early on, heading the time sheets before Daniel Nogales in the no8 Team Virage Ligier went ahead briefly. Provost then went quicker again with a 2m12.970 lap.
Wyatt Brichacek then went quickest with a 2m12,473 in the no4 DKR Engineering Ligier, with Louis Iglesias in the no17 CLX Motorsport Ligier going second fastest.
However, Provost was on a quick lap, while Brichacek’s lap went sideways at Eau Rouge, the American running wide and was pinged for track limits. Provost took the chequered flag in 2m12.186, 0.287s faster than the no4 Ligier. CLX Motorsport heads row 2, with Team Virage in fourth spot.
LMGT3: McIntosh Snatches Pole for Racing Spirit of Leman at Chequered Flag
The LMGT3 qualifying saw many of the 14 strong field start on wet tyres, but it soon became apparent that slicks were the way to go.
Blake McDonald put the no33 TF Sport Corvette into provisional pole position, lapping the 7km circuit in 2m25.646, followed by 2m22.476 and then a 2m20.826, putting the championship leader over 5 seconds ahead of the field.
The no62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG of Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi making a bid for the top spot, the Qatari driver posting a 2m21.166 at the flag.
McDonald had a track limits violation in Sector 1, so couldn’t improve his time, so all eyes were on the no59 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin, driven by Anthony McIntosh. The American was up on the pole time and crossed the line in 2m20.206, an impressive 0.620s ahead of the Corvette.
Round 4 of the 2026 ELMS will take place at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday 23 August, with the 4-hour race due to begin at 13h00 CEST.
