Zimmer Continues Hot Streak With Zhuhai Pole

Frank Zimmer secured his season leading fifth Pole Position during the twenty minute qualifying session at the Zhuhai International Circuit. It is a total that would equal the amount of pole positions GT-R WC Drivers Champion Ricardo Llosa had during the 2016 season.

The second best lap from the Australian, which he set early in the session, would have been enough to secure Pole Position, but after fellow front row starter Alexandre-Laurent Voeckler put in a lap that would have put him a tenth of a second away from the Factory Pagani driver if his first lap stood, the decision was made to send out Zimmer on a second run. This decision would prove decisive as Zimmer found another two tenths of a second and put Pole Position out of reach for anyone behind. Much like in Malaysia, Frank Zimmer would be the only driver to get into the next second barrier on the time sheets, with no one else going into the 1:27s in the session.

The top eight positions on the grid are taken up by Manufacture entries, with all of the Title Protagonists in the Drivers Championship putting themselves in a good position to score pivotal points on Sunday. The pair of Gerald Pereria Listers find themselves starting on the second row of the grid, continuing their strong form after finishing 1-2 at the last round in Malaysia, with the reigning champions in Ricardo Llosa and Jordan McKenna starting right behind them on the grid.

Leandro Moreira and Jose Pablo Mazzacane complete the Top Ten and will start as the leading Independent runners on Sunday, with Independents Trophy contenders Nathan Scott and Tommy Douglas starting on the sixth row of the grid. Current points leader in the Independents Trophy in Asim Adhikari struggled for one lap pace, leaving the Nepalese driver and co-driver Marlin Hortin with all to work for want to secure the title with two races to spare; they start the race seventeenth.