Jaubert Secures Genesis’ First WEC Pole at Barcelona

Mathys Jaubert, the FIA Silver‑rated driver, earned Genesis’ first pole in the FIA World Endurance Championship by clocking a 1:30.166 lap on the No. 17 Genesis GMR‑001 at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya. The time was 0.170 seconds faster than Toyota’s No. 8 TR010, whose points leader Ryo Hirakawa topped the field. Jaubert’s lap also made him the youngest driver to start a WEC race from pole, a milestone for the newcomer and the brand. Mathieu Jaminet, also in a Genesis, recovered from a brief stop to secure third fastest time in the session.

The opening Hyperpole session was delayed 15 minutes after repairs were made to the track’s final corner, adding tension to the qualifiers. Both Aston Martin Vantage cars from Heart of Racing failed to advance to Hyperpole, with the No. 009 missing the cut by 0.032 seconds and the No. 007 finishing 12th after a marginally slower lap. The top‑ten order saw the No. 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P and the second Alpine 35 Signatech A424 fill the midfield, while the second Toyota and second Cadillac completed the list. The session highlighted the competitiveness of the hypercar class and set the stage for the 6‑hour race to start at noon CEST on Sunday.