2026 | WEC | 6 Hours of Imola | Qualifying & Hyperpole | Hypercar | Last-lap heroics hand Giovinazzi pole in record Imola shootout

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Antonio Giovinazzi rose to the occasion in emphatic fashion at Imola, securing Hypercar pole position for Ferrari AF Corse in a dramatic 2026 WEC Qualifying sessions.

Unlike his commanding performance at the same venue twelve months ago, this time Giovinazzi had to fight until the very final moments. As the clock ticked down, the Italian pieced together a near-perfect lap to stop the timing screens at 1:30.127, edging his closest challenger by a razor-thin 0.011 seconds. Crucially, the lap not only secured pole but also underlined his ability to deliver under immense pressure, with thousands of passionate tifosi watching from the grandstands.

Ferrari’s strong Qualifying form meets fierce resistance as final lap drama decides hyperpole at 2026 WEC 6 Hours of Imola

Heading into Qualifying, Ferrari looked firmly in control. The iconic marque topped four of the five practice and testing sessions, signalling clear intent to begin its title defence with authority on home soil.

However, when it mattered most, the competition intensified. Toyota Gazoo Racing and Peugeot TotalEnergies both stepped up, transforming the Hyperpole shootout into a fiercely contested battle.

Initially, Giovinazzi and team-mate Antonio Fuoco exchanged fastest laps, demonstrating the pace of the Ferrari 499P. Yet, as the session evolved, tyre strategies and rising track temperatures added complexity, bringing rivals firmly into contention.

As the decisive minutes unfolded, Ryō Hirakawa surged to the top of the leaderboard in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid. At that moment, it appeared Toyota had done enough to secure pole position.

Nevertheless, Giovinazzi had one final opportunity—and he seized it. On his last flying lap, he extracted every ounce of performance from the car to reclaim P1 in spectacular style.

After the session, he admitted: “That was a lot more difficult than last year!”

“After seeing Toyota run on the medium tyres in the first part of Qualifying, we knew they would be a threat in Hyperpole, and with the hotter temperatures compared to last year, our car wasn’t so easy to drive.

“I was on an even quicker lap earlier in the session until I made a mistake, so I’m really happy that in the end I was able to do enough because we know how important track position is here, but it was certainly intense and it will make for a fun race to watch tomorrow, that’s for sure!”

Record-breaking margins highlight intensity

The statistics from the session underline just how competitive the Hypercar field has become. The top four cars finished within just 0.073 seconds of one another—the smallest margin recorded across 102 events in the championship’s history.

Moreover, the top ten were separated by only 0.674 seconds, setting a new benchmark for the Hyperpole era. Such margins emphasise not only the performance parity between manufacturers but also the critical importance of precision driving and strategic execution.

Malthe Jakobsen delivered an outstanding performance to place Peugeot fourth in the Peugeot 9X8, marking the manufacturer’s closest-ever attempt at pole. Meanwhile, Norman Nato secured fifth for the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R entry, bouncing back strongly after a challenging run through free practice.

Midfield battles and notable performances

Further down the order, several teams delivered noteworthy efforts. BMW M Team WRT placed both its cars inside the top ten, continuing its steady progression in the Hypercar category.

Similarly, Alpine Endurance Team demonstrated consistent pace with both entries, while Aston Martin THOR Team continued to gather valuable data as it develops its programme.

In addition, Genesis Magma Racing made its much-anticipated debut. Mathieu Jaminet and André Lotterer qualified 16th and 17th respectively in the Genesis GMR-001. Importantly, Jaminet finished less than a second off pole, offering clear encouragement for the new programme.

With such minimal gaps separating the frontrunners, the stage now stands set for a compelling race. Ferrari AF Corse may lead the field away, yet Toyota Gazoo Racing and Peugeot TotalEnergies remain firmly within striking distance.

Therefore, strategy, tyre management and consistency will prove decisive. If Qualifying serves as any indication, the 6 Hours of Imola promises to deliver a fiercely competitive and unpredictable contest.