Sebring Pre-Qualifying – Final standings confirmed, 34 drivers qualified for the Lusail opener

The third and final day of pre-qualifying at the Sebring circuit has concluded, defining the 14 drivers admitted in each category. After three days of extremely close battles, the picture is finally complete: together with those already qualified by right, they will be the ones to kick off the Italian GT3 and Hypercar Championship on LMU next 30 September at Lusail (Qatar).

Hypercar – Di Buono untouchable, Melilli snatches it at the photo finish

In Hypercar the dominator does not change: Marco di Buono lowers the benchmark even further to 1:43.684, finishing ahead of Simone Violo (+0.521) and Daniel Tudda (+0.754). The level of the top ten is impressive, with as many as nine drivers under the 1:45 barrier.

The battle for the cut was dramatic: Simone Melilli and Elias Poli both set a time of 1:45.018, but it was Melilli who prevailed, having set the time in the 19 September session, while Poli recorded it two days later. An outcome decided by a mere regulatory detail, which handed the Como-based driver the final available spot in the top 14.

LMGT3 – Ruggiero holds firm, Cannistraci on the podium

In LMGT3 the podium remains virtually unchanged, with Edoardo Ruggiero on top in 2:00.943, followed by Marcello Bonaccorsi (+0.169). The new face is Daniele Cannistraci, who with his 2:01.171 claims third place, displacing Guglielmo Filippi (+0.239).
The fight for the cut was just as intense: 14th place went to Giovanni Marasca with 2:02.019, just 42 thousandths ahead of Christian Rocchi. Among the first excluded were also Francesco Mastrangelo and Matteo Giuntoli, less than three tenths away from the qualifying zone.

Drivers qualified by right

In addition to the 14 per class, drivers already qualified previously are added:

• Hypercar: Dario Iemmulo, Leonardo Passoni, Andrea Zanelotti, Simone Bisoglio

• LMGT3: Leonardo Porco, Gianluca Scalvini

There will therefore be a total of 34 drivers per category battling it out in the opening round of the championship.

Towards Lusail

With the selection phase complete, it is time to focus on the opening race: on 30 September the championship will get underway from the floodlit Lusail circuit, in Qatar. After the intensity of the pre-qualifying sessions, the spectacle is guaranteed: the best Italian eSports talents are ready to fight for the first Italian ACI eSport title on Le Mans Ultimate.