Goethe Fastest in Barcelona Pre-Qualifying

Benjamin Goethe set the pace in Pre-Qualifying as preparations intensify for Barcelona’s GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup title showdown.

Goethe, driving the Pro class Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, posted a 1:40.870 lap with his first flyer of the session which would not be beaten.

It was enough to edge out Bastian Buus, driving the Bronze Cup No. 888 UNX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R by 0.267 seconds.

All the best times were set in the opening minutes of an uneventful one-hour session that ran without interruption, which lent the leaderboard an unconventional look with five Bronze Cup entries in the top-ten.

Bronze Cup points leader Dennis Marschall was third fastest in the No. 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, shading the second Garage 59 McLaren of leading Gold Cup runner Louis Prette.

After Jules Gounon topped the times in this morning’s Free Practice session, his team-mate aboard the No. 17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Fabian Schiller posted the fifth fastest effort.

Tommaso Mosca’s No. 52 AF Corse Ferrari in sixth was the third quickest Bronze entry, just ahead of Thomas Preining’s Pure Rxcing Porsche, while overall championship leader Maro Engel was eighth fastest in his Winward-run Team MANN FILTER Mercedes-AMG.

Marvin Dienst in Winward’s Bronze class No. 81 Mercedes-AMG was ninth, as Eddie Cheever III rounded out the top 10 in his Ziggo Sport Tempesta Ferrari.

Dinamic GT Porsche driver Mikkel Pedersen paced the Silver class in 14th overall.

Qualifying for the three-hour race in Barcelona is scheduled for Sunday at 10:25 a.m. CEST (4:25 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Pre-Qualifying