Points Leader Van der Linde Takes Pole for Race 2

GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup points leader Kelvin van der Linde scored pole for the second race of the Magny-Cours weekend at the wheel of the No. 32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

After teammate Charles Weerts could only manage 17th on the grid on Saturday, with the pair fighting through to seventh, van der Linde enjoyed a much stronger qualifying.

His 1:35.927 put the reigning champion on his first Sprint Cup pole by just over two tenths of a second from the No. 7 Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo of Nicki Thiim, who managed a 1:36.154.

There was an impressive effort from Christopher Haase to qualify the No. 84 Eastalent Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in third place after that car retired from the opening race after getting caught up in a chain reaction of collisions.

Haase posted a 1:36.197 and was just over a tenth faster than the best of the McLaren 720S GT3 Evos, the No. 59 Garage 59 machine of Marvin Kirchhoefer.

Fifth fastest was the No. 80 Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo thanks to a 1:36.350 from Ricardo Feller, while in sixth place was the Gold Cup polesitter, the No. 111 CSA McLaren of Arthur Rougier.

Seventh was a notable result for Patric Niederhauser in the No. 96 Rutronik Racing Lamborghini Temerario GT3 as the car continues to improve after taking its first global victory in the DTM last weekend.

Dani Juncadella dominated Saturday’s opening race of the Magny-Cours event in the No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo alongside Jules Gounon but could only qualify eighth on a 1:36.545.

There was another WRT BMW on pole in the Silver Cup division as the No. 30 car of Ignacio Montenegro that is leading the class points was fastest in 16th overall.

Meanwhile it was a Porsche that set the pace in the Bronze Cup ranks as Peter Dempsey put the Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing machine 26th overall.

The second race of the Magny-Cours weekend is due to take place at 3:30 p.m. CEST (9:30 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Qualifying