The no22 United Autosports Ligier secured the pole position for this afternoon’s race at MotorLand Aragon, with Josh Caygill jumping to the top of the timing screen as he took the chequered flag to secure the British teams first Michelin Le Mans Cup pole since Le Mans 2020.
The 15-minute session saw all 29 cars take to the track with the no48 Murphy Prototypes Duqueine being driven by Torsten Kratz after John Ferguson had to withdraw from the event for health reasons.
Kratz made an early bid with a 1m55.858 lap but was soon pushed down the order by Jean-Ludovic Foubert in the no9 Racing Spirit of Léman Ligier, the no87 COOL Racing Ligier of Adrien Chila and the no77 Team Thor Ligier of Audunn Gudmundsson.
The times continued to tumble with the no48 Murphy Prototypes Duqueine going back to the provision pole position with a 1m54.311, with championship leader Julien Gerbi in the no16 Team Virage Ligier in second spot. The no25 360 Racing Ligier of Mark Richards went ahead of Gerbi just before the red flag was shown after the no26 360 Racing Ligier of Terence Woodward pulled off in a cloud of smoke after the British driver’s fore extinguisher went off accidently in the cockpit.
Woodward’s car was recovered quickly, and the session resumed with just over 4 minutes left on the clock. Torsten Kratz elected to stay in the pits and could only watch as Josh Caygill went second in the no22 United Autosports Ligier with a 1m54.515 on his penultimate lap, the British driver taking the chequered flag with a 1m54.235, 0.076s faster than his German rival.
The no25 360 Racing Ligier of Mark Richards will start at the head of row 2 with championship leaders Gillian Henrion and Julien Gerbi alongside in 4th spot.
Tim Creswick put the no86 HCR by CaffeineSix Porsche 911 on pole position in Aragon, the championship contenders finishing the 15-minute session over a tenth ahead of the rest of the field.
The session started with the no10 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage of championship leader Arnold Robin setting the early pace, the French driver posting a 1m59.807, six tenths ahead of Creswick’s Porsche.
The no64 Team Parker Racing Porsche of Alex Martin leapt up the order to challenge for the top spot, as did the no51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 of Koizumi Hiroshi, with Martin going top with three minutes of the session remaining with a 1m59.056.
The no86 Porsche responded with Creswick posting a session best time of 1m58.782 with less than two minutes left on the clock. The no10 Aston Martin also responded, briefing going second before Martin pushed Robin back to third at the chequered flag.
There was confusion briefly when the no70 Leipert Motorsport Lamborghini went quickest by 1.6 seconds at the hands of Brendon Leitch, but the New Zealander is the silver driver and as such his time was discounted.
The no86 HCR by CaffeineSix Porsche 911 will start the race in pole position, with the no64 Team Parker Racing Porsche alongside on the front row.
Round 4 of the 2023 Michelin Le Mans Cup in Aragon will be held on Friday afternoon and is due to start at 17h40.
CLICK HERE for the result from Qualifying for Round 4 in Aragon.
