Defending World Endurance Champions Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa will start the Albacete 6-Hour World Endurance race from third position, despite setting the fastest individual time.

The GSX-R1000-mounted trio finished less than 100ths of a second behind pole setters Qatar Endurance Racing Team and Kawasaki Motor France when the individual rider times were combined.

Philippe set the fastest lap of 1' 32.052 during last night's evening qualifying at the Spanish circuit, which wasn't bettered during today's final qualifying sessions.

Today's race, which is the second of six rounds, gets underway at 18.00hrs.

 
World Endurance Qualifying - (unofficial average):
 
1. Qatar Endurance Racing Team (QAT /Kawasaki). 1'32.903
2. Kawasaki Motor France (FRA/ Kawasaki) 1'32.940
3. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (FRA/ Suzuki).1'33.001
4. Yamaha Phase One Endurance (GBR/ Yamaha). 1'33.836
5. Yamaha Austria Racing Team (AUT/ Yamaha). 1'34.706
6. Folch Endurance (ESP/ Yamaha) 1'34.747
7. FCC TSR (JPN Honda). 1.34.748
8. Bolliger Team Switzerland (SUI/ Kawasaki). 1'34.929
9. RPM-Expert Flumotion (ESP/ Ducati). 1'35.699

Photos: David Reygondeau. http://www.reygondeau.com