Boutsen Porsche Roars to Pole in Portimao Qualifying

Photo: SRO/JEP

The Boutsen VDS Porsche of Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello roared to pole position in qualifying for the season finale of the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup at Portimao.

The crew of the No. 2 Boutsen Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo commanded each of the three qualifying sessions, setting a fastest combined time of 1:42.071.

It appeared as though Boutsen would lead a Porsche 1-2 with fellow Pro class Porsche team Lionspeed GP behind, but a strong lap by Fabian Schiller in the No. 17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at the end of the final qualifying session was enough to snatch second place from the Lionspeed squad.

The No. 17 Mercedes-AMG ended up just 0.108 seconds off the combined pole time.

Porsche had appeared to be on the back foot across the pair of practice sessions earlier today, but comfortably set the pace when it came to qualifying on Friday evening. The No. 80 Lionspeed entry claimed third ahead of HRT’s No. 64 Ford Mustang GT3 EVO.

The No. 50 AF Corse crew completed the top five in the fastest of the Ferraris.

Just adrift of them in sixth was the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG. Drivers Maro Engel and Lucas Auer were awarded the overall GTWC Europe drivers’ title earlier today following a successful appeal to its disqualification at the Misano Sprint Cup round.

Winward also claimed the Endurance Cup teams’ title at the end of qualifying as it finished the session ahead of title rivals Comtoyou Racing and extended its championship lead by an unassailable margin. It is also currently vying with Team WRT for the overall teams’ title, which will be decided in the race tomorrow.

Seventh place went to the No. 59 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.

Simon Birch set the fastest overall lap of the evening session with a 1:41.652. It was enough to place his No. 71 Selected Car Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo on Gold Cup pole and in eighth place overall.

The Pro class No. 7 Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo finished in ninth ahead of the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari.

HRT claimed the Silver Cup pole with its No. 65 Ford. Driver Eduardo Coseteng set the third fastest lap of the session which was enough to top the class and finish 13^th overall on the timing screens.

Bronze Cup pole position went to the No. 991 Paradine Competition BMW for the first time this season thanks to a rapid lap by Robert de Haan. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup runner-up returned to the Paradine garage this weekend to support James Kellett and team owner/driver Darren Leung.

Despite the fanfare of four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen’s GTWC Europe debut, the Verstappen Racing crew could manage no higher than 15th position. Each of the trio appeared to be nursing an issue with the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG as it was seen porpoising along the start-finish straight.

The three-hour contest at Portimao starts on Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. local time (12 p.m. EST).

RESULTS: Qualifying

Finlay Ringer

Finlay Ringer is a freelance motorsport journalist covering the 24H Series for Sportscar365. He is also a journalism student at City St George's, University of London, and has contributed to publications such as The Race and Autocar.