GRT Quickest in Qualifying as Superpole Contenders Locked In

Photo: JEP/SRO

The No. 163 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 was quickest in qualifying, with the top 20 cars advancing to tomorrow’s Superpole to determine the sharp end of the grid for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Jordan Pepper, Franck Perera and Marco Mapelli combined for a best three-lap average of 2:15.275 to edge out the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 trio of Alessio Rovera, Davide Rigon and Alessandro Pier Guidi by 0.046 seconds.

The No. 48 Winward Racing-run Mann Filter-sponsored Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo was third quickest, followed by the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari and No. 7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo, which completed the top-five.

Phantom Global Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R was sixth, ahead of the No. 22 Schumacher CLRT Porsche in seventh and the No. 2 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG, No. 92 SSR Herberth Porsche and No. 34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin completing the top-ten.

The Gold class No. 25 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II was 11th, in one of three Audis to get into the top 20, while only a single McLaren 720S GT3 Evo will advance, in the No. 188 Garage 59 entry that was the quickest of the Bronze class in 12th.

Both of the ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3s will advance, as will the Nos. 9 and 77 Bousten VDS and Haupt Racing Team Mercedes-AMGs, plus the No. 63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini and the No. 777 AlManar Racing by GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG, which was 20th in qualifying.

Among the notable entries to miss out on Superpole included both Team WRT BMWs, which were 21st and 23rd, respectively, the No. 99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, No. 992 HubAuto Racing Porsche as well as the No. 130 GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG, which had a splitter issue during Frederik Vesti’s run in Q2.

Vesti and co-drivers Ralf Aron and Dani Juncadella combined for the 52nd best overall time.

Q4 was red-flagged with seven minutes to go due to the No. 159 Garage 59 McLaren stopping on track before rejoining the field, resulting in a split session that saw a number of last-minute improvements, including a flying lap from Pepper to put the No. 163 on the top of the combined timesheets.

Next up is night practice, which is scheduled to get underway at 10:25 p.m. local time (4:25 p.m. EDT), with Superpole set for Friday at 3:45 p.m. local (9:45 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Qualifying

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John