Makowiecki Becomes 13th Different GTLM Pole Winner In 13 Races

Considered by many to be the most competitive GT class in the world, the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship witnessed its 13th different pole winner in 13 TUDOR Championship races Friday during qualifying for the 63rd Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.

Frederic Makowiecki extended a streak dating back to qualifying for the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona – the inaugural TUDOR Championship event – driving the No. 912 Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR to the pole with a lap of one minute, 58.587 seconds (113.537 mph) on his final circuit of the 15-minute session. He will start alongside teammate Patrick Pilet in the 12-hour race that also is the second round of the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup (FOX Sports 1, 10:30 a.m. ET).

“The grip was really low, and we took a long time to get grip, so that is why we did a lot of laps,” said Makowiecki. “We are trying to get the same result as the (No.) 912 last year with the pole and winning the race. It’s great so far for the team. We started the weekend with a little issue with the car, but the team is working hard and working really well.”

Also saving his best lap for last was Pilet, who followed his teammate to the front row in the final minute in the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR. His time of 1:58.806 (113.328 mph), while 0.219 seconds behind Makowiecki, bested the Rolex 24-winning No. 3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R of Antonio Garcia, 1:58.828 (113.307 mph).

The No. 25 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTLM of Dirk Werner, 1:58.842 (113.293 mph), and the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia of Pierre Kaffer, 1:58.927 (113.212 mph), made it four different manufacturers in the top five positions. The top-seven cars were separated by less than 0.9 seconds.

Media Contact:

Nate Siebens

nsiebens@imsa.com

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