Gounon Grabs Pole for Misano Race 2

Jules Gounon set the fastest time in qualifying for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup Race 2 at Misano by narrowly pipping Kelvin van der Linde.

Substituting for Sprint Cup regular Chris Lulham in the No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO as the Briton recovers from a medical procedure, Gounon responded after losing a provisional pole lap to a track limits infringement with a further improvement that knocked van der Linde off the top spot.

Gounon’s 1:32.017 effort was just 0.057 seconds faster than the No. 32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo which took victory in Race 1 on Saturday evening and marked his first Sprint Cup pole since Magny-Cours 2024.

A strong effort from Kobe Pauwels in the No. 7 Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO secured third, 0.068 shy of pole, and put the 21-year-old ahead of Max Hesse’s No. 46 WRT BMW which started Race 1 from pole.

Arthur Leclerc improved late on to start fifth in his No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, with the Monegasque due to be joined on row three by Maro Engel’s No. 48 Winward Mercedes-AMG.

Pole in the Gold class was claimed by Arthur Rougier, who will start seventh in the No. 111 CSA Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, four places ahead of nearest class rival Alex Aka’s No. 66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

Aurelien Panis in the GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros Mercedes-AMG scorched to the Silver class pole with a 1:32.722 lap to pace the A session.

The Frenchman’s best effort, which put him 0.325 seconds clear of nearest class rival Gilles Stadsbader’s No. 52 AF Corse Ferrari, secured Panis 14th position overall to join Race 1 runner-up Bastian Buus’s Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo on row seven.

Charles Dawson’s 2Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG secured the Bronze class pole after usurping Peter Dempsey’s previous benchmark aboard the Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing Porsche by 0.239 seconds. The reigning British GT champion will start 25th, four spots ahead of Dempsey.

Race 2 is due to begin at 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. EST) and will be available to view on the GT World YouTube channel.

RESULTS: Qualifying