Acura Takes Pole Position at Petit Le Mans, and Cadillac Comes Close to the GTP Title

The No. 60 Acura will start from pole position for the IMSA Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, with the No. 93, also an Acura, in second place in GTP. Qualifying also set the poles for LMP2 with the No. 99 ORECA, for GTD PRO with the No. 1 BMW, and for GTD with the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG.

Tom Blomqvist set the lap in the No. 60, which he shares in the race with Colin Braun and Scott Dixon, recording just over 1 minute and 9 seconds. The No. 93, with Nick Yelloly, Renger van der Zande, and Álex Palou, was two tenths back, and the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8, with Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, and Robin Frijns, was nearly four tenths off pole. The two Acuras were the only cars in the class to dip below 1 minute and 10 seconds, and the Acura ARX-06 is the GTP car with the most poles over the last four years.

Photo By IMSA

Blomqvist, who secured his third pole at Road Atlanta and his second in a row, said the team worked late into the night to fix the issue that limited the No. 60 in Thursday's three practice sessions. The rest of the top ten was very tight, with the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R fourth, the No. 6 Porsche 963 fifth, the No. 40 Cadillac sixth, the No. 7 Porsche seventh, the No. 23 Aston Martin eighth, the No. 25 BMW ninth, and the No. 10 Cadillac tenth, all within less than a second of pole.

That three-position gap between the No. 31, of Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti, and the No. 7, of Felipe Nasr, Julien Andlauer, and Laurin Heinrich, increases the margin in the championship, which unofficially grew from 147 points to 151. According to the points combinations published by IMSA, the Cadillac only needs to take the start in the race to be champion. It is the same trio that won this race in 2025, and Cadillac also arrived with a 136-point lead over Porsche among the manufacturers.

Photo By IMSA

LMP2 and GTD, with gaps of 10 and 15 points

In LMP2, the No. 99 ORECA of AO Racing took pole with the lap by PJ Hyett, who shares it with Dane Cameron and Jonny Edgar, and the top five in the class were within just over one second. It is the team's first LMP2 pole in 2026 and Hyett's first in 14 months. The car carries a red livery dedicated to Rockie, a pegasus, instead of the purple one of Spike, the dragon that debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, and Hyett, the 2025 class champion, said he doesn't like the statistic, but better late than never.

The No. 43 Inter Europol Competition, with Jeremy Clarke, Tom Dillmann, and Bijoy Garg, was second, followed by the No. 52 Bryan Herta Autosport, the No. 22 United Autosports, and, in fifth, the No. 04 CrowdStrike, with George Kurtz, Alex Quinn, and Toby Sowery. Because of that difference in positions, the championship gap between the No. 43 and the No. 04 went from 4 to 10 points, the equivalent of one finishing position. The No. 99 starts 105 points behind the No. 43 and needs something to happen to the two cars ahead of it in the standings. In LMP2, the Jim Trueman Award is also awarded to the champion among Bronze drivers, with an invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the No. 04 and No. 99 are separated by one point in the Michelin Endurance Cup.

Photo By IMSA

In GTD, Winward Racing changed its usual qualifying lineup and put Philip Ellis in place of Russell Ward in the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, which is completed by Indy Dontje. With the pole, the team's first at Petit Le Mans, the No. 57 went from 6 to 15 points ahead of the No. 96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, which also changed its usual order with Robby Foley in place of Patrick Gallagher and qualified fifth. According to Ellis, the red flag for an incident between two cars shortened the session and prevented several teams from improving on a second set of tires. The top five in the class were separated by just over half a second, with the No. 21 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo second, the No. 12 Lexus RC F GT3 third, and the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG fourth. The Ferrari is also fighting for the GTD Michelin Endurance Cup title.

GTD PRO and the value of qualifying points

Qualifying awards championship points by position within each class, and in GTD PRO that shook up the standings. The No. 1 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Paul Miller Racing took pole with the lap by Neil Verhagen and scored 35 points, the No. 68 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO of Car Blanche was second with Mattia Drudi and received 32, and the No. 4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R was third with Nicky Catsburg and received 30, so the 47 points separating the No. 4 from the No. 1 dropped to 42. The 14 cars in the class were within one second, and the top twelve within three quarters of a second.

Photo By IMSA

Verhagen, who has done all the qualifying sessions this year, said the plan was to use two sets of tires, something he says everyone already does in the second half of the season to go after those points. Catsburg felt the No. 4 did a good job and said he hopes the BMW's race pace doesn't show up. The Corvette will have support from the No. 3, of Antonio Garcia, Alexander Sims, and Marvin Kirchhoefer, which starts fourth and which according to Sims will try to maximize manufacturer points and those of the No. 4. The BMW will race without a supporting car and will have to make up the 42 points on its own.

Photo By IMSA

The ten-hour race starts at 12:10 p.m. Eastern Time, with 54 cars on track, and in addition to championship points, it awards Michelin Endurance Cup points at the 4-, 8-, and 10-hour marks, so several teams will have to decide whether to take risks at those intervals or take care of the car to make it to the finish. For the No. 99 and the No. 04 in LMP2, separated by one point in that cup, and for the No. 21 Ferrari in GTD, those moments weigh as much as the final result. It is also the last scheduled race for the Lexus RC F GT3 and the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 in IMSA.

29th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans 2026 — Qualifying

Pos	Pos. Class	Class	#	drivers	team	brand	car	Gap
1	1	GTP	#60	Tom Blomqvist Colin Braun Scott Dixon	Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian	Acura	Acura ARX-06	-
2	2	GTP	#93	Renger van der Zande Nick Yelloly Alex Palou	Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian	Acura	Acura ARX-06	+0.222
3	3	GTP	#24	Dries Vanthoor Sheldon van der Linde Robin Frijns	BMW M Team WRT	BMW	BMW M Hybrid V8	+0.379
4	4	GTP	#31	Jack Aitken Earl Bamber Frederik Vesti	Cadillac Whelen	Cadillac	Cadillac V-Series.R	+0.468
5	5	GTP	#6	Laurens Vanthoor Kevin Estre Matt Campbell	Porsche Penske Motorsport	Porsche	Porsche 963	+0.505
6	6	GTP	#40	Jordan Taylor Louis Deletraz Colton Herta	Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing	Cadillac	Cadillac V-Series.R	+0.601
7	7	GTP	#7	Felipe Nasr Julien Andlauer Laurin Heinrich	Porsche Penske Motorsport	Porsche	Porsche 963	+0.622
8	8	GTP	#23	Ross Gunn Roman De Angelis Alex Riberas	ASTON MARTIN THOR Team	Aston Martin	Aston Martin Valkyrie	+0.660
9	9	GTP	#25	Philipp Eng Marco Wittmann Kevin Magnussen	BMW M Team WRT	BMW	BMW M Hybrid V8	+0.773
10	10	GTP	#10	Ricky Taylor Filipe Albuquerque Will Stevens	Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing	Cadillac	Cadillac V-Series.R	+0.827
11	11	GTP	#5	Tijmen van der Helm Nico Mueller Kaylen Frederick	JDC-Miller MotorSports	Porsche	Porsche 963	+1.298
12	1	LMP2	#99	PJ Hyett Dane Cameron Jonny Edgar	AO Racing	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+3.241
13	2	LMP2	#43	Jeremy Clarke Tom Dillmann Bijoy Garg	Inter Europol Competition	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+3.464
14	3	LMP2	#52	Misha Goikhberg Parker Thompson Harry Tincknell	Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+3.649
15	4	LMP2	#22	Daniel Goldburg Paul Di Resta Rasmus Lindh	United Autosports USA	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.050
16	5	LMP2	#04	George Kurtz Alex Quinn Toby Sowery	Crowdstrike Racing by APR	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.267
17	6	LMP2	#11	Tobi Lutke Mathias Beche David Heinemeier Hansson	TDS Racing	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.282
18	7	LMP2	#2	Phil Fayer Hunter McElrea Mikkel Jensen	United Autosports USA	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.472
19	8	LMP2	#18	Naveen Rao Ferdinand Habsburg Jacob Abel	Era Motorsport	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.867
20	9	LMP2	#73	Pietro Fittipaldi Manuel Espirito Santo Chris Cumming	Pratt Miller Motorsports	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+4.986
21	10	LMP2	#37	Oliver Jarvis Max van der Snel Jon Field	Intersport Racing	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+5.604
22	11	LMP2	#8	John Farano Sebastian Alvarez Tristan Vautier	Tower Motorsports	Gibson	ORECA LMP2 07	+5.720
23	1	GTDPRO	#1	Neil Verhagen Connor De Phillippi Dan Harper	Paul Miller Racing	BMW	BMW M4 GT3 EVO	+8.491
24	2	GTDPRO	#68	Valentin Hasse Clot Marco Sorensen Mattia Drudi	Car Blanche	Aston Martin	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	+8.635
25	3	GTDPRO	#4	Tommy Milner Nicky Catsburg Nico Varrone	Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	+8.652
26	4	GTDPRO	#3	Antonio Garcia Alexander Sims Marvin Kirchhöfer	Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	+8.702
27	5	GTDPRO	#77	Nick Tandy Harry King Alessio Picariello	AO Racing	Porsche	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+8.760
28	6	GTDPRO	#911	Klaus Bachler Thomas Preining Mathieu Jaminet	Manthey	Porsche	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+8.792
29	1	GTD	#57	Russell Ward Philip Ellis Indy Dontje	Winward Racing	Mercedes-AMG	Mercedes-AMG GT3	+8.971
30	7	GTDPRO	#62	Daniel Serra Davide Rigon Alessandro Pier Guidi	Risi Competizione	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+9.007
31	8	GTDPRO	#9	Andrea Caldarelli Sandy Mitchell Franck Perera	Pfaff Motorsports	Lamborghini	Lamborghini Temerario GT3	+9.053
32	2	GTD	#21	Simon Mann Lilou Wadoux Ducellier Antonio Fuoco	Af Corse Usa	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+9.132
33	9	GTDPRO	#59	Max Esterson Nikita Johnson Benji Goethe	RLL Team McLaren	McLaren	McLaren 720S GT3 EVO	+9.159
34	10	GTDPRO	#64	Ben Barker Dennis Olsen Mike Rockenfeller	Ford Racing	Ford	Ford Mustang GT3	+9.173
35	3	GTD	#12	Aaron Telitz Benjamin Pedersen Frankie Montecalvo	Vasser Sullivan Racing	Lexus	Lexus RC F GT3	+9.180
36	11	GTDPRO	#65	Christopher Mies Frederic Vervisch Sebastian Priaulx	Ford Racing	Ford	Ford Mustang GT3	+9.206
37	12	GTDPRO	#14	Jack Hawksworth Ben Barnicoat Kyle Kirkwood	Vasser Sullivan Racing	Lexus	Lexus RC F GT3	+9.212
38	13	GTDPRO	#74	Giacomo Altoè Casper Stevenson Sebastien Bourdais	DragonSpeed	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	+9.309
39	4	GTD	#80	Luca Stolz Lin Hodenius James Roe	Lone Star Racing	Mercedes-AMG	Mercedes-AMG GT3	+9.471
40	14	GTDPRO	#033	James Calado Riccardo Agostini Miguel Molina	Triarsi Competizione	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+9.482
41	5	GTD	#96	Patrick Gallagher Robby Foley Francis Selldorff	Turner Motorsport	BMW	BMW M4 GT3 EVO	+9.526
42	6	GTD	#27	Dudu Barrichello Tom Gamble Zacharie Robichon	Heart of Racing Team	Aston Martin	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	+9.530
43	7	GTD	#34	Albert Costa Lorenzo Patrese Alec Udell	Conquest Racing	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+9.555
44	8	GTD	#45	Danny Formal Trent Hindman Graham Doyle	Wayne Taylor Racing	Lamborghini	Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2	+9.796
45	9	GTD	#28	Jan Heylen Ryan Yardley Zachary Vanier	Rs1	Porsche	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+9.822
46	10	GTD	#023	Onofrio Triarsi Kenton Koch Robert Megennis	Triarsi Competizione	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+10.011
47	11	GTD	#120	Adam Adelson Callum Ilott Tom Sargent	Wright Motorsports	Porsche	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+10.219
48	12	GTD	#36	Mason Filippi Salih Yoluc Charlie Eastwood	DXDT Racing	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	+10.411
49	13	GTD	#66	Jake Walker Till Bechtolsheimer Joey Hand	Gradient Racing	Ford	Ford Mustang GT3	+10.660
50	14	GTD	#16	Sheena Monk Felipe Fraga Jenson Altzman	Myers Riley Motorsports	Ford	Ford Mustang GT3	+10.776
51	15	GTD	#13	Orey Fidani Matthew Bell Lars Kern	13 Autosport	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	+10.862
52	16	GTD	#70	Brendan Iribe Frederik Schandorff Fran Rueda	Inception Racing	Ferrari	Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO	+10.873
53	17	GTD	#912	Ryan Hardwick Riccardo Pera Morris Schuring	Manthey 1St Phorm	Porsche	Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)	+10.881
54	18	GTD	#44	John Potter Spencer Pumpelly Mario Farnbacher	Magnus Racing	Aston Martin	Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo	+11.460