Ferrari was the car to beat at Monza in qualifying for the opening Blancpain Endurance Series race of 2013.
Alessandro PierGuidi headed the times at the end of the third part of qualifying when the cars were at their lightest and the Italian was able to find a reasonably clear lap amid the 60-strong field.
The SMP Racing-run Ferrari was quicker than Maxime Soulet’s Prospeed Porsche 997 GT3 R by just two tenths of a second.
Former Toyota Formula 1 test driver Franck Perera took the Pro GT Porsche to the third fastest time ahead of the Nissan of Alex Buncombe.
Fifth fastest was Phillip Eng, whose MRS McLaren topped Q2, while reigning champion Stephane Ortelli will start sixth for WRT Audi after the best time as set in the car by new team-mate Rene Rast.
Despite concerns about BMW’s lack of straightline speed, Maxime Martin qualified seventh for Marc VDS ahead of an inspired Jonny Adam who guided the Beechdean Aston Martin to the eighth fastest time.
Daniel Zampieri (Ferrari) was ninth for Kessel Racing with Rob Bell 10th. Bell shares the Gulf McLaren with Adam Carroll and Nico Verdonck.
Perera, co-driven by Eric Dermont, will start on pole position in the Pro-Am class in the 60-car entry, while Lorenzo Bontempelli qualified on pole in the Gentlemen Trophy for Kessel Racing.
He will share his Ferrari with Alessandro Garrofano and Beniamino Caccia who won the class at Monza last year in a Ferrari 430.
The GT Academy Nissan starts third in Pro-Am, Alex Buncombe setting the time.
Despite a number of cars spinning, damage was limited although Marlene Broggi had to park her Boutsen Ginion McLaren with rear damage and a small fire.
In worse trouble was WRT: Rahel Frey had a puncture in Q1; Matt Halliday spun into the gravel in Q2 and Niki Mayr-Melnhof suffered a jammed gearbox exiting the pits in Q3 and caused a red flag.
The car will start 47th should the team be able to change the unit ahead of the 14.30 local time start.
