Earl Bamber will start tomorrow’s Spa 24 Hour from the fifth row while gearbox troubles upset Team Porsche New Zealand’s qualifying overnight.
Bamber, who won last year’s race with Rowe Racing, starts as the highest-placed Porsche for the famed endurance race.
Co-driver Mathieu Jaminet has been lightning all week thus far, and topped the night practice on Friday.
Jamient earned the opportunity to steer the Porsche 911 R in the Super Pole to land ninth on the grid.
Ninth is one spot down on where they team finished in pre-Super Pole qualifying but is still a competitive position.
Overall pole fell to Mercedes AMG driver Raffaele Marciello.
The Team Porsche New Zealand Pro-Am entry driven by Kiwis Reid Harker and Will Bamber had a disappointing qualifying session.
Their afternoon was plagued by a gearbox issue.
They will start 56th from the 58 runners tomorrow.
Fortunately, 24 hours is a long time and gives the team ample chance to work their way through the field in pursuit of a class podium.
The Spa 24 Hour kicks off from 1 am NZT on Sunday and is free to watch on YouTube.