---
title: "Vilander Nabs Pirelli World Challenge Pole at Long Beach Grand Prix"
description: "Vilander's Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo will start at the front of Sunday's Pirelli World Challenge race."
date: "2018-04-14"
modified: "2018-04-14"
authors:
  - name: "Caleb Jacobs"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/caleb-jacobs"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/20124/vilander-nabs-pirelli-world-challenge-pole-at-long-beach-grand-prix"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Long Beach Grand Prix"
  - "motorsport"
  - "Pirelli World Challenge"
  - "Sportscar Racing"
---

# Vilander Nabs Pirelli World Challenge Pole at Long Beach Grand Prix

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/04/ripshaub_pwc_2018_longbeach_qual-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Toni Vilander will start first on the grid for Sunday's Pirelli World Challenge race around the Long Beach, CA city circuit. He and his No. 61 R Ferri Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo managed a fastest lap of 1:18.496, placing the crew ahead of Daniel Morad's CRP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 which will complete the front row.

Saturday brought about Vilander's second pole position in as many street-sprint races this season after claiming a P1 start in St. Petersburg. This is the Finn's rookie year in PWC competition, though he's driven in IMSA and WEC for years as part of Ferrari's factory racing program.

![message-editor%2F1523730703449-ripshaub\_pwc\_2018\_longbeach\_qual-3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523730703449-ripshaub_pwc_2018_longbeach_qual-3.jpg>)
**© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

Daniel Mancinelli will start behind Morad's AMG, placing two Ferrari 488 GT3 Evos in the top-three. Long Beach serves as Mancinelli's series return, one which he has performed well at after being quickest on the first day of practice. His P3 start will land him in decent position to fight for the top step of the podium as qualifying is increasingly important at the tight and congested track.

![message-editor%2F1523730654015-ripshaub\_pwc\_2018\_longbeach\_qual-2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1523730654015-ripshaub_pwc_2018_longbeach_qual-2.jpg>)
**© 2018 Rip Shaub. All Rights Reserved**

Porsches took the fourth and fifth positions in the GT class qualifying with Alec Udell's No. 41 GMG Racing 911 GT3 R finishing in front of Michael Christensen's No. 24 entry of the same make and model. The latter was reported to the stewards alongside the managers for Black Swan Racing following incidents during the qualifying rounds.

Yuki Harata's No. 55 Dream Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 will start first in the GTA class as he led the field with a 1:19.157 best. Paul Holton was then awarded pole for the GTS invitational in his No. 78 Compass Racing McLaren 570S GT4, and he'll be followed by Harry Gottsacker and Spencer Pumpelly, both driving Porsche Cayman GT4s.

## Author
Caleb Jacobs is The Drive’s senior editor. When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, he’s usually driving his dump truck or wishing it was running so he could drive it. He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-jacobs-319323119>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/calebjwords>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/calebjacobs0611>)