Jaubert Secures Genesis's First WEC Pole at Barcelona

Key points

• Jaubert's 1:30.166 lap in the No. 17 Genesis GMR-001 secured pole position, beating Ryo Hirakawa's 1:30.336 in the No. 8 Toyota by 0.170 seconds.
• Jaubert, aged 21, is the youngest driver to achieve outright pole in FIA WEC history, sharing the car with André Lotterer and Pipo Derani.
• Mathieu Jaminet took third place in the No. 19 Genesis GMR-001, recovering from two on-track stoppages during the qualifying sessions.
• Charles Milesi in the No. 35 Alpine A424 finished fourth, followed by Will Stevens in the No. 12 Cadillac V-Series.R in fifth.
• Robert Kubica was the highest-placed Ferrari driver in sixth, while Antonio Fuoco's time in the No. 50 Ferrari was deleted for track limits, dropping him to eighth.
• Both Aston Martin Valkyries and BMW M Hybrid V8s failed to progress to Hyperpole, with BMW finishing 14th and 16th in the initial session.

Background

This event is the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA WEC season, held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Genesis Magma Racing, a new entrant to the Hypercar category, has shown consistent progress in recent free practice sessions, posting the second-fastest times in two of three sessions. The championship is currently led by Ryo Hirakawa, who has the opportunity to seal the Drivers' world championship title in this race. The qualifying session was delayed by 15 minutes at the start due to track repairs at the final corner.

How outlets are covering it

Sportscar365 and FIA WEC both highlight Jaubert's achievement as a historic first for Genesis and the youngest pole-sitter in WEC history. FIA WEC emphasizes the emotional reaction of Jaubert and the strategic tire management that allowed him to overcome low grip conditions. Motorsport.com provides detailed timing data, noting the specific margins between the top ten cars and highlighting the track limits violation that affected Antonio Fuoco's position. All sources agree on the final grid order but differ in emphasis: FIA WEC focuses on the narrative of Genesis's rise, while Motorsport.com provides a more technical breakdown of the qualifying sessions and the LMGT3 class results, where Tom Fleming took pole for McLaren.

Why it matters

This pole position signals that Genesis Magma Racing is a serious contender in the Hypercar category, challenging established manufacturers like Toyota and Ferrari. It also puts pressure on Ryo Hirakawa, who must defend his championship lead from a second-place start. The performance of the new entrant could influence the final standings of the 2026 season and the future of the Hypercar class.

What to watch

The 6 Hours of Barcelona race will start at 12:00 CEST on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Ryo Hirakawa and his team-mates Sébastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley will attempt to secure the Drivers' world championship title. The race will determine the final positions in the Hypercar class and provide a preview of the 2027 season for the new entrants.