Malthe Jakobsen delivered a sensational Hyperpole lap to put the #94 Peugeot 9X8 on pole position for the 2026 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The Dane produced a 2m00.653s in the closing phase of Friday’s Hypercar shootout, giving Team Peugeot TotalEnergies its maiden FIA World Endurance Championship pole position.
The result completed a dramatic turnaround for Jakobsen, who had spun at high speed at the top of Raidillon during the earlier Qualifying phase. However, after returning to the pits for fresh tyres, the 22-year-old recovered superbly and then converted his pace into a landmark pole for Peugeot.
2026 FIA WEC: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: Hypercar: Qualifying
Alpine leads the first Qualifying phase
Alpine Endurance Team set the pace in the opening Hypercar qualifying segment, as Charles Milesi placed the #35 Alpine A424 at the top of the timesheets with a 2m00.808s.
The Frenchman’s lap put Alpine 0.215s clear of the #94 Peugeot, which advanced in second despite Jakobsen’s early spin at Raidillon. The sister #36 Alpine also progressed safely in third after Jules Gounon posted a 2m01.039s.
Ferrari AF Corse followed in fourth with the #50 Ferrari 499P, while the #93 Peugeot completed the top five. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA also placed both V-Series.R entries inside the Hyperpole cut, with the #12 car sixth and the #38 car ninth.
Ferrari and Toyota miss Hyperpole
The opening Qualifying phase brought disappointment for several major contenders. The #83 AF Corse Ferrari finished 13th, while the #51 Ferrari AF Corse entry ended the session 15th and failed to progress to Hyperpole.
Toyota Racing also missed out with both cars. The #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid qualified 12th, while the Imola-winning #8 car ended the session 16th.
BMW M Team WRT narrowly missed the cut with the #20 car in 11th, although the sister #15 BMW advanced in seventh and later took part in Hyperpole.
Qualifying classification
- Alpine #35 – Alpine Endurance Team – 2:00.808 – 6 laps
- Peugeot #94 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – +0.215 – 7 laps
- Alpine #36 – Alpine Endurance Team – +0.231 – 7 laps
- Ferrari #50 – Ferrari AF Corse – +0.373 – 6 laps
- Peugeot #93 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – +0.402 – 6 laps
- Cadillac #12 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.431 – 6 laps
- BMW #15 – BMW M Team WRT – +0.548 – 6 laps
- Aston Martin #009 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +0.640 – 7 laps
- Cadillac #38 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.650 – 7 laps
- Aston Martin #007 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +0.755 – 7 laps
- BMW #20 – BMW M Team WRT – +0.765 – 6 laps
- Toyota #7 – Toyota Racing – +0.784 – 7 laps
- Ferrari #83 – AF Corse – +0.969 – 6 laps
- Genesis #19 – Genesis Magma Racing – +1.016 – 7 laps
- Ferrari #51 – Ferrari AF Corse – +1.040 – 7 laps
- Toyota #8 – Toyota Racing – +1.356 – 7 laps
- Genesis #17 – Genesis Magma Racing – +2.497 – 7 laps
2026 FIA WEC: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: Hypercar: Hyperpole
Jakobsen delivers Peugeot breakthrough
Jakobsen confirmed his status as one of the FIA WEC’s brightest young talents at Spa-Francorchamps, as he delivered when it mattered most in Hyperpole. His 2m00.653s placed the #94 Peugeot at the head of the order, ahead of the six-hour race on Saturday.
The lap also secured Peugeot’s first pole position in FIA WEC competition. Therefore, the French manufacturer will start from the front as it searches for a major result with the #94 crew of Jakobsen, Théo Pourchaire and Loïc Duval.
Earlier in the session, that outcome looked far from certain. Jakobsen spun on his out-lap in Qualifying after being caught out at Raidillon, but avoided contact and returned to the garage. After taking on fresh tyres, he rejoined the session and safely advanced to Hyperpole.
Stevens misses out by 0.043s
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA came agonisingly close to pole, as Will Stevens placed the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R second with a 2m00.696s. That left the Brit just 0.043s away from Jakobsen’s benchmark.
Stevens had already shown strong form earlier in the day by topping FP3, and he again placed Cadillac firmly in the fight at the front. The #12 entry will therefore start from the front row for Saturday’s race.
The sister #38 Cadillac also advanced to Hyperpole, with Jack Aitken claiming fifth on his series debut. His 2m00.940s put the second Cadillac inside the top five, underlining the pace of the V-Series.R around Spa-Francorchamps.
Alpine locks out second row
Alpine Endurance Team continued its strong Spa weekend by placing both A424 Hypercars on the second row. Charles Milesi took third in the #35 Alpine with a 2m00.731s, just 0.078s away from pole.
The #36 Alpine followed in fourth, as Jules Gounon posted a 2m00.838s. Although Alpine could not quite repeat its one-two pace from FP2 or its leading form in the first part of Qualifying, the French manufacturer remains well placed for the race.
With both cars starting inside the top four, Alpine will have a strong opportunity to challenge Peugeot and Cadillac when the race gets underway.
Aston Martin and Ferrari complete the Hyperpole top eight
Aston Martin THOR Team continued its encouraging form at Spa, placing both Valkyries inside the top seven. The #009 Aston Martin took sixth with a 2m01.013s, while the #007 sister car followed in seventh on a 2m01.052s.
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a more difficult Qualifying session. Antonio Fuoco was the only Ferrari driver to reach Hyperpole, placing the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P eighth with a 2m01.117s.
The #83 AF Corse Ferrari and the #51 Ferrari AF Corse entry both failed to progress from the first Qualifying segment. That means Ferrari will start lower than expected, despite showing strong pace during free practice.
Hyperpole classification
- Peugeot #94 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – 2:00.653 – 5 laps
- Cadillac #12 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.043 – 6 laps
- Alpine #35 – Alpine Endurance Team – +0.078 – 6 laps
- Alpine #36 – Alpine Endurance Team – +0.185 – 6 laps
- Cadillac #38 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA – +0.287 – 6 laps
- Aston Martin #009 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +0.360 – 6 laps
- Aston Martin #007 – Aston Martin THOR Team – +0.399 – 6 laps
- Ferrari #50 – Ferrari AF Corse – +0.464 – 6 laps
- Peugeot #93 – Peugeot TotalEnergies – +0.545 – 6 laps
- BMW #15 – BMW M Team WRT – +0.664 – 6 laps
Peugeot on pole for Spa race
Peugeot will start the 2026 TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps from pole after Jakobsen’s superb Hyperpole performance. However, with Cadillac, Alpine, Aston Martin and Ferrari all inside the top eight, the fight at the front remains finely balanced.
The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is scheduled to begin at 14:00 CEST on Saturday, 9 May.
