Valentino Rossi Takes Maiden FIA WEC Pole Position at Imola
Valentino Rossi gave his passionate home fans plenty to cheer about by capturing his first-ever FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) pole position during qualifying for the 2025 6 Hours of Imola. Competing in the highly competitive LMGT3 category, Rossi’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his endurance racing career.
Dominant Performance by Rossi and Al-Harthy
The charge for pole started with a blistering effort from Rossi’s teammate, Ahmad Al-Harthy, who delivered an exceptional lap behind the wheel of the #46 BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO in the first segment of qualifying. Al-Harthy outpaced the field by more than three-quarters of a second, setting a dominant tone for the team heading into the critical Hyperpole session.
In the decisive ten-minute Hyperpole shootout, Rossi capitalized on Al-Harthy’s strong foundation. Mastering the technical 4.909km layout of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, famously known as Imola, Rossi set a benchmark lap that none of his rivals could better, sealing a memorable first FIA WEC pole position.
Strong Competition in Hyperpole
Rossi’s stellar lap left him just under a third-of-a-second ahead of Clemens Schmid, who impressed in the Akkodis ASP Team Lexus. The Japanese marque has shown a significant upswing in performance this season, and Schmid’s effort continued to highlight their competitiveness.
Zacharie Robichon rounded out the top three qualifiers in the Heart of Racing Aston Martin, while Qatar winner Ben Keating endured a difficult session, managing only 16th in the TF Sport Corvette.
BMW Aiming to Repeat 2024 Success at Imola
After taking victory at Imola in 2024, BMW heads into race day with renewed optimism thanks to Rossi’s and Al-Harthy’s impressive qualifying performances. The pole position not only boosts morale but also strengthens BMW’s bid for another win at the iconic Italian circuit.
For Rossi, clinching his first pole on home soil represents another proud moment in his illustrious career, as the Italian legend continues to make his mark in world-class endurance racing. The stage is now set for an electrifying 6 Hours of Imola.
