BMW driver Philipp Eng (27, A, BMW Team Schnitzer) set a new ADAC GT Masters qualifying record at the Nürburgring and secured pole position for Sunday’s race in the Super Sports Car League, putting him in the top spot on the grid for the second time this season. Four Audi drivers, led by Kelvin van der Linde (21, ZA, Aust Motorsport), will line up behind the Austrian.
Eng was the man to beat in the dying minutes of the 20-minute session. He had already secured pole with his very first hot lap but did even better subsequently with a time of 1.26.413 minutes, beating the ADAC GT Masters qualifying record for the sprint track at the Nürburgring by almost 0.6 seconds. Eng last took P1 on the grid at the season opener in Oschersleben.
“I’m very pleased,” said the BMW works driver. “I made a small mistake on my first lap, but all went well on the second. Our team have done a great job and have improved on yesterday’s set-up. Hopefully, we can finish the race in the position from which we start out. We will now prepare as best we can and try to stay ahead this afternoon.”
Audi driver Kelvin van der Linde in second place was just 0.112 seconds slower than Eng, and fellow Audi driver, Christopher Haase (29, DEU, Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) was only a small distance behind him. Fourth and fifth places also went to Audi R8 drivers with Patric Niederhauser (25, CH, Aust Motorsport) and Markus Winkelhock (37, DEU, BWT Mücke Motorsport). Sven Müller (25, DEU, Precote Herberth Motorsport) was sixth in the best-placed Porsche 911.
There’s a change of drivers at Mercedes-AMG Team HTP Motorsport. Maximilian Buhk (24, DEU) is replacing Marvin Kirchhöfer (23, DEU) in the Mercedes-AMG bearing start number 48. Kirchhöfer has been disqualified from the event by DMSB stewards for unsporting behaviour. Buhk qualified tenth on the grid.
Source. ADAC GT Masters/Photo. ADAC Motorsport
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