Alonso gets pole on WEC debut after sister Toyota disqualified

Fernando Alonso was handed pole position for the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps on his World Endurance Championship debut with Toyota. Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi had qualified the sister Toyota on pole, but they were disqualified after the stewards ruled it ran with an incorrect fuel flow meter.

The session was overshadowed by a huge crash that left Pietro Fittipaldi with serious injuries. Fittipaldi, the grandson of two-time Formula 1 champion suffered suspected fractures to both legs after crashing his DragonSpeed's #10 BR Engineering BR1 Gibson into barriers at Eau Rouge.

An FIA statement confirmed: "The driver, who was conscious at all times, was attended immediately by the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Medical Services and FIA Medical Delegate Jacques Tropenat, extracted from the car and taken by helicopter to the Centre Hospitalier de la Citadelle de Liege with suspected fractures to both legs.

"He is accompanied by the DragonSpeed Team Manager and his condition is not life-threatening."

Sending positive vibes to @PiFitti and @DragonSpeedLLC! Wish him a speedy recovery ????????????

Team #WEC — WEC (@FIAWEC) May 4, 2018

As the Toyota Gazoo Racing cars scrapped for pole, Alonso was unable to replicate the kind of performance that had left him top of the timesheets in Thursday's opening practice session.

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Conway was almost half a second quicker than the McLaren F1 man on the first runs, with Alonso's driving partner Kazuki Nakajima also putting in a better time.

Kobayashi went quickest of all on the second runs, leaving him and Conway three tenths up on Alonso and Nakajima on average pace.

However, an "administrative error" cost the number seven car, which will start from the back of the grid and a lap down on the rest of the field.

"An incorrect identification number for the car's fuel flow meter was declared for the number seven prior to qualifying," said the team in a statement. "This subsequently emerged during post-qualifying scrutineering.

"The team accepts full responsibility for the error, which had no impact whatsoever on car performance. The fuel flow meter which was used in the number seven was fully homologated and calibrated.

"Team processes and procedures will be strengthened immediately to avoid any repeat of this unfortunate error."

Two-time F1 champion Alonso has made no secret of his desire to secure motorsport's 'Triple Crown', with a season in WEC giving him two chances to take out the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Alonso skipped Monaco last year to compete in the Indy 500, impressing until Honda engine failure ended his race in familiar circumstances over recent years.