Gradually intensifying rain showers made the four-segment qualifying at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps a challenge for the teams and drivers. As the track was still comparatively dry at the start of the first segment, the cars with three-driver line-ups, who didn’t participate in Q1, were almost fully without a chance. Subsequently, numerous favourites failed to make it into the top 20 qualifying. The Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Teams also had a hard time getting themselves into an optimal position in the challenging conditions. The #999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM ended up in ninth position as the best-placed Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the second-fastest PRO car in qualifying, in which the average time of all the drivers counted. In his qualifying stint on a drying track, Maro Engel (GER) opted for slicks and therefore was able to lay the foundation for the good achievement. As a result, the Performance Team with Engel, Mikaël Grenier (CAN) and Daniel Juncadella (ESP) is allowed to compete for pole position in Friday’s shoot-out. The #79 Haupt Racing Team car with Sébastien Baud (FRA), Hubert Haupt (GER), Jordan Love (AUS) and Arjun Maini (IND) will also participate as it was classified 19th. Moreover, the #3 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 has also secured third on the grid in the PRO-AM category. No longer able to take part in the qualifying sessions was the #75 SunEnergy1 Racing car. Following an accident in pre-qualifying, driver Kenny Habul (AUS) was transported to a nearby hospital for further examination as a precaution after an initial check in the medical centre. The team plans to participate in the race with a replacement car. Due to the heavy rain, race control cancelled night practice, originally scheduled for 11pm.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Superpole:
#79 Haupt Racing Team
#999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM
Provisional starting grid positions of the further Mercedes-AMG GT3s:
P23: #88 AKKODIS ASP Team
P27: #777 Mercedes-AMG Team AlManar
P38: #87 Mercedes-AMG Team AKKODIS ASP
P39: #2 GetSpeed
P42: #89 AKKODIS ASP Team
P43: #157 Winward Racing
P44: #64 Haupt Racing Team
P52: #57 Winward Racing
P53: #81 Theeba Motorsport
P63: #3 GetSpeed
P64: #90 Madpanda Motorsport
P66: #4 CrowdStrike Racing by Riley
“A good qualifying for us, we were at the right place at the right time in these conditions. There, the team has made many right calls. We made it into Superpole, so from that perspective, that is our job done for today.”
Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM #999
“It was a difficult qualifying with rain setting in. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drive a clean lap, but the car handled well. It looks like we have made it into Superpole, but we have caused a red flag and we aren’t sure why. Now, we have to wait what race control decides.”
Arjun Maini, Haupt Racing Team #79
“That was a very disappointing qualifying for us. Lello and Timur had heavy traffic, impeding them both. Unfortunately, P23 therefore was all that was in store for us. The rules made it a bit crazy, too. Many cars with four drivers were able to post a lap time in the dry and it is the average lap time that counts. But that is the way it is. We knew that this could happen. Hopefully, we can turn things around in the race.”
Jules Gounon, AKKODIS ASP Team #88
“Conditions changed throughout qualifying. Q1 was dry and we were able to complete a lap before the red flag was out. Then the rain got stronger and stronger and the car worked really well in these conditions. Third place in class is a strong position to be in for the 24-hour race.”
Lance Bergstein, GetSpeed #3
“Qualifying was a bit unlucky for us. We didn’t make it into the top 20 because of the chaos in Q2. In these mixed conditions, it was slightly difficult, but we have a strong car, even though it doesn’t show on the result sheets yet. We are confident and we have a very strong team, a car that works really well in any conditions and a strong driver line-up. We have chances of a good result, even though we are starting from outside the top 20.”
Fabian Schiller, Mercedes-AMG Team AlManar #777
