Engel Tops Hockenheim Pre-Qualifying

Maro Engel topped the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup Pre-Qualifying session at Hockenheim, which saw five different brands represented in the top five.

The German steered the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to a best lap of 1:39.257, outpacing the No. 6 Liqui-Moly Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 of Luca Engstler by 0.146 seconds.

Engel’s time was slightly slower than the 1:39.022 Sven Mueller posted to the Free Practice session, which stood as the fastest time across Friday running.

Dries Vanthoor put the No. 32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 third a further 0.072 seconds back, while the remaining top five spots were taken up by Ferrari and Audi runners in Giacomo Altoe and Gilles Magnus, respectively.

Magnus, piloting the No. 25 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, led Gold Cup, while Sandy Mitchell went quickest in Bronze Cup by putting the No. 78 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini sixth overall.

The No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 was fastest in Silver Cup in seventh, ahead of Eddie Cheever in the No. 93 Sky-Tempesta Racing Ferrari and the second Emil Frey Racing entry of Konsta Lappalainen.

Patric Niederhauser, driving the No. 96 Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, completed the overall top ten.

The session’s sole red flag was caused just before the halfway point by Magnus Gustavsen in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG, who went off at Turn 12 but rejoined soon thereafter.

Qualifying for the opening Sprint Cup race of the weekend takes place Saturday at 9:50 a.m. CEST (3:50 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Pre-Qualifying