The battle for supremacy in the PC class stepped up another notch today at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with PR1 Mathieson Motorsports taking pole with Marino Franchitti behind the wheel.

The Scot returns to the No. 52 machine this weekend – now teaming up with Rudy Junco (pictured above). While the number is the same, Franchitti and Junco are now in a new car after the team’s Canadian Tire Motorsport Park car was badly damaged during the race when Ken Dobson was forced off track after contact between Alex Popow and a GTC class entant.

The pole position is Franchitti’s first in American Le Mans Series competition since Sebring in 2010 when he recorded the P2 pole for Highcroft Racing.

Joint-championship leader Colin Braun held the early advantage before being pushed down the oder by Canada winner Bruno Junqueira for RSR Racing.

Junqueira and Franchitti then traded times at the top of the timesheet before the Scot finally grabbed the upper hand.

Braun and Colin Bennett will start third ahead of Kyle Marcelli who suffered a minor off-track excursion. Popow and Ryan Dalziel will start from position five.