GTWC EU: Lionspeed GP ''blitz'' Brands Hatch qualifying with double pole position

Credit: Hallam Voice

The Lionspeed GP duo of Ricardo Feller and Bastian Buus dominated qualifying for the Brands Hatch Sprint season opener, achieving a rare double pole position, whilst Paul Ricard winners Comtoyou Racing found themselves struggling.

On a slightly overcast and breezy Brands Hatch track, the first session of qualifying for the two Sunday Sprint races, belonged wholely to one driver. Ricardo Feller was untouchable in his No.80 Lionspeed GP Porsche, grabbing Pole position for Race One by a comfortable margin of two and a half tenths from the No.50 AF Corse Ferrari of Arthur Leclerc.

This first session featured lots of ''wheel dipping'' into the grass at the exit of the Stirlings Turn, something that affected some of the laps.

Credit: Hallam Voice

It was a dream session for Matisse Lismont as the Belgian was an astonishing third overall in the No.30 Team WRT BMW, achieving the Silver class pole position for Race One, with the respective Gold class pole going to the No.99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi driven by Dylan Pereira.

Meanwhile Paul Ricard winner Nicki Thiim struggled heavily, finding himself down in 31st place for that first Sunday Race in the Comtoyou Racing No.7 Aston Martin.

Lionspeed GP's excellence continued into a Q2 session shortened by one minute, due to the No.34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin of Mateo Villagomez spinning across the track and beaching himself in the same troubling corner.

Bastian Buus, taking over from Feller, once again went fastest of all, achieving a double-pole for his team, a tenth faster than second place man, Dani Juncadella, with Valentino Rossi third fastest.

This meant that for the first time since Misano 2022, a team achieved the coveted double pole and as such will start both races from it, with the same rare occurence happening for the Silver class, as Ignacio Montenegro retained the form of his teammate, being fastest of all competitors, whilst being ninth overall. Gold class pole for Race two went to the No.10 Boutsen VDS Porsche of Gilles Magnus in a pretty good outing, with him being also fifth overall.

Meanwhile a dire qualifying session for Comtoyou's No.7 car was completed, with Kobe Pauwels only 24th.

Qualifying Results Q1 - Overall

1st No.80 Lionspeed GT, Porsche

2nd No.50 AF Corse, Ferrari

3rd No.30 Team WRT, BMW (Silver)

4th No.3 Verstappen Racing, Mercedes

5th No.14 Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari

Qualifying Results Q2 - Overall

1st No.80 Lionspeed GT, Porsche

2nd No.3 Verstappen Racing, Mercedes

3rd No.46 Team WRT, BMW

4th No. 48 Winward Racing, Mercedes

5th No.10 Boutsen VDS, Porsche (Gold)