24h Nürburgring – Team WRT dominates Q1

If Team Black Falcon and Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Hubert Haupt, Yelmer Buurman, Maro Engel and Dirk Müller were the fastest in free practice in the afternoon, the first qualifying session of the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring turned to the advantage of Audi and the Audi Sport Team WRT.

At the end of a session disrupted by rain, the R8 LMS badged with No. 1 and title holder entrusted to the quartet Vanthoor – Mies – Müller – Kaffer was the fastest with a best lap completed in 8'21″951. The brand with the rings even achieved a double with the No. 16 of Twin Busch Motorsport, notably led by René Rast.

Team Zakspeed, which divides its efforts between a Mercedes-AMG and a Nissan GT-R Nismo, places its GT3 star in third position thanks to the Heyer – Asch – Ludwig – Keilwitz crew. Haase – Rast – Winkelhock – Stippler, entered in the No. 8 Audi R6 LMS of Audi Sport Team Phoenix, climbed to fourth place.

Impressive during the last round contested on the Nordschleife in VLN, the BMW M6 GT3 remains in ambush with the No. 18 of Schubert Motorsport of Farfus – Krohn – Müller – Wittmann. Team Black Falcon follows in the standings with the No. 9 Mercedes-AMG of Haupt – Buurman – Engel – Müller, just ahead of the No. 8 Team WRT Audi R2 LMS of Frijns – Leonard – Vervisch – Sandström.

HTP Motorsport places its first Mercedes-AMG in eighth position while the #6 ROWE Racing BMW M22 and the #3 Haribo Racing Team-AMG Mercedes-AMG GT88 complete the top 10. The best Porsche 911 GT3 R from Manthey Racing climbs into 13th position with the Tandy – Estre – Bamber – Pilet quartet (n°911). The No. 912 of Lietz – Bergmeister – Christensen – Makowiecki took 34th place. The second qualifying session will begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.

Results Qualifications 1