Bortolotti Takes Pole for GRT at Silverstone

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Mirko Bortolotti set the fastest lap during Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup qualifying at Silverstone, putting the GRT Grasser Racing Team No. 16 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 into pole position.

Bortolotti, Rolf Ineichen and Jeroen Bleekemolen will start this afternoon’s race from the front row, after the Italian driver’s 1:58.469 laptime.

Maxime Martin set the early pace in the ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3, leading the first session. Team-mate Philipp Eng continued this trend, topping the second session in the No. 99 car.

However, with the other teams picking up the pace in the final run, the ROWE BMW could only manage third on the grid, despite Alexander Sims’ best efforts.

In second position, behind Bortolotti, was Franck Perera, in the No. 74 ISR Audi R8 LMS. The Pro-Am car finished ahead of any of the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audis, the first of which will start eighth.

Maximilian Buhk put the No. 84 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of HTP Motorsport into fourth, ahead of Albert Costa’s Emil Frey Racing Jaguar G3.

The highest-placed Bentley Continental GT3 was the No. 7 car, set to start seventh, while the Monza-winning No. 58 McLaren 650S GT3 will be 12th on the grid.

Perera’s Audi, in second, is the highest Pro-Am Cup entry, and second in class is the Scuderia Praha No. 34 Ferrari 488 GT3.

David Perel led the way in the Am Cup, putting the No. 111 Kessel Racing Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 into 41st overall, while the No. 87 AKKA ASP Mercedes is second.

The three hour race will start at 3:00 p.m. local time this afternoon.

RESULTS: Qualifying 3

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.