GTWC EU: No.64 HRT Ford Racing storms to pole in Monza qualifying

Credit: SRO/JEP

HRT Ford Racing were standouts in qualifying for the Monza round of the GT World Challenge Europe (GTWC EU) Endurance Cup, as the team got both Pro and Silver pole positions.

As it happened

Finn Wiebelhaus in the Silver class No.65 HRT Ford Racing Mustang set the early benchmark in Q1 with 1:45.757, where only Silver and Bronze entrants ran early on, before Gold and Pro cars entered the track with 10 minutes to go, with Marvin Dienst in the Bronze class No.87 Winward Racing Mercedes in second, in provisional class pole.

These two times proved hard to beat, even for higher class cars initially, with Lucas Auer in the No.48 Mann-Filter Mercedes the first to dislodge Wiebelhaus from first with a 1:45.731.

He ended Q1 only fourth however, behind Dani Juncadella in the No.3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes in third, the second placed Dylan Pereira in the No.99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi, who was in provisional Gold class pole subsequently and the standout performer of the session, Arjun Maini in the No.64 HRT Ford Racing Mustang, who light up the time sheets, doing a 1:45.459, 0.170 faster than Pereira in second.

Credit: SRO/JEP

Come Q2, everything continued in order, bar a short yellow flag period due to the No.56 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin of Lorcan Hanafin having some sort of issue, limping slowly back in to the pits.

As for times, Lorenzo Patrese in the Bronze class No.74 Kessel Racing Ferrari set the fastest Q2 time early on, doing a 1:45.863 with the fastest Silver time coming from Eduardo Coseteng in the No.65 HRT Ford Racing Mustang in third.

This meant that overall the No.65 Ford went into provisional pole position, as combined times were superior, with Gabriele Piana doing enough to keep the No.87 Mercedes in Bronze pole territory, with Patrese's efforts enough for second.

Chris Lulham in the No.3 Mercedes topped the Q2 time sheets, with a 1:45.501, enough for the Verstappen Racing entry to move into second overall, behind the No.64 Ford, which still sat atop, after Fabio Scherer set the second fastest Q2 time, only 0.011 slower than Lulham's.

Credit: SRO/JEP

Third overall and still on Gold pole was the No.99 Audi, after Andrea Frassineti set the session's fifth fastest time, nearly four tenths faster than the next Gold car.

When Q3 time came around, the stakes were highest of all, as a mistake could mean lost places. Things started badly for Greystone GT though, as the No.44 McLaren in Jayden Kelly's hands picked up a puncture straight away, having to slowly crawl back to the pits.

Shortly afterwards, the No.52 AF Corse Ferrari of Gilles Stadsbader spun round, right after the Ascari chicane, possibly caught out by the slow McLaren, re-entering the track without issue.

In regards to the ever crucial lap times, Ben Dörr set Q3's initial fastest time amongst Silver and Bronze class cars, with a spectacular 1:45.323, enough to put the No.23 Team RJN McLaren in third for the Silver class.

Credit: SRO/JEP

Silver pole though belonged to the No.65 HRT Ford, with Maxime Oosten's efforts enough to clinch first in class, with the second fastest initial Q3 time. In Bronze, despite Dennis Marschall's best efforts in the No.74 Kessel Racing Ferrari, the No.87 Winward Mercedes still ended up on pole, with Rinat Salikhov's time enough to pip the Ferrari in the Bronze time sheets.

Overall honours though went to qualifying's benchmark all throughout, with Thomas Drouet giving the No.64 HRT Ford Pole position, with Q3's second fastest time, just behind Ben Dörr's.

Second place went to the No.3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes after Jules Gounon's time was good enough, although the team will start from seventh on the grid, as they will serve a five-place grid penalty, given for a Free Practice infringement. Thus the No.99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi will start from second and Gold class pole.

The three-hour race is scheduled to start at 15:30 local time (13:30 GMT)

Qualifying Results - Overall

1st No.64 HRT Ford Racing, Ford

2nd No.3 Verstappen Racing, Mercedes

3rd No.99 Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi (Gold)

4th No.65 HRT Ford Racing, Ford (Silver)

5th No.80 Lionspeed GP, Porsche