Under a blazing Florida sun, the LM GTE cars were the first to take the track for the first qualifying session. Jörg Bergmeister established the first reference time with the Porsche #45 Flying Lizard, but the German carmaker was quickly overtaken by a Ferrari, the AF Corse F458 Italia driven by Gianmaria Bruni.

The Italian is a regular in pole positions, including Le Mans Series, and five laps were enough for him to put his Ferrari on the top spot in the starting grid with a time of 2'01''561, confirming Ferrari's earlier success in free practice..

However, the competition is not far behind with no fewer than eight cars in the same second. Oliver Gavin finished less than two tenths behind with the #04 Corvette, while the two BMWs follow in third and fourth positions.

Richard Lietz, Porsche factory driver and also familiar with the exercise of skill, has, not surprisingly, placed the #63 Porsche of Proton Competition at the lead of LM GTE Am with 2'02''942. In front of Nic Jonsson in the #57 Ferrari of Krohn Racing and Aston Martin Vantage #60 of Fabien Giroix.

The very small time difference between the protagonists suggests a particularly tight race that should please fans who have parked their motorhomes all around the circuit.

Cecile Bonardel

Photo: Sebring (Florida, USA), 12 Hours of Sebring, March 18, 2011.