Boutsen VDS get pole for Race One in GTWC EU Zandvoort Qualifying

Credit: SRO/JEP

Morris Schuring proved the benchmark on his home event, him giving Boutsen VDS the advantage for Race One of the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWC EU) Zandvoort Sprint Cup round. At the other end, it was a tough day for Mercedes and BMW.

As it happened As the pit lane opened for the first group of cars, those in Pro and Gold, no movement was detected, with all cars, except the No.555 CSA Racing McLaren of Romain Andriolo, leaving it until there were less than five minutes to go, for themto start their timed attempts.

Boutsen VDS' Morris Schuring proved to be the fastest of them all, doing it in home soil, as the Dutchman driving the No.2 Porsche set a 1:33.730 to -eventually- get the overall pole position for Race One. Following him were two Gold entries, with Tom Fleming second in his No.58 Garage 59 McLaren, him also achieving the class pole, as well as Tommaso Mosca in the No.51 AF Corse Ferrari.

Credit: SRO/JEP

It was a good overall day if you are a Porsche fan, with the German manufacturer seeing four of their cars in the overall top 10, with Eddie Cheever in the No.93 Ziggo Sport Porsche Bronze entry being a pretty spectacular fourth overall and achieving the class pole position. He was followed closely by another Bronze car, that being the No.991 Paradine BMW of Augusto Farfus in fifth overall.

As was the case with the first group of cars, Bronze and Silver cars mostly left it late in the clock, before making their two or three timed laps, with many entries benefitting from track evolution as well, in order to out-qualify several Pro cars.

Dean McDonald in the No.59 Garage 59 McLaren, Klaus Bachler in the No.914 Razoon Porsche, Bastian Buus in the No.80 Lionspeed Porsche and a pair of Ferraris, them being the No.69 Emil Frey entry driven by Thierry Vermeulen and the No.50 AF Corse of Thomas Neubauer, completed the overall top 10.

It was a tough day for Mercedes and BMW, more specifically for Pro entries, as Lucas Auer in the No.48 Winward Racing car was down in 20th, with Verstappen Racing's Dani Juncadella down in 27th, with Team WRT suffering at Zandvoort, their three Pro entries qualifying only in 33rd, 35th and last, with Amaury Cordeel in the No.31 BMW failing to set a timed lap, due to repeated track limits violations.

Qualifying Results - Overall

1st No.2 Boutsen VDS, Porsche 2nd No.58 Garage 59, McLaren (Gold)

3rd No.51 AF Corse, Ferrari (Gold)

4th No.93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta, Porsche (Bronze)

5th No.991 Paradine Competition, BMW (Bronze)