Mercedes and AKKA-ASP take poles in Hungary

Raffaele Marciello and Vincent Abril offer the two poles of the final of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe in Hungary to the AKKA-ASP team with the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT88.

Published on 07/09/2019 à 11:40

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Mercedes and AKKA-ASP take poles in Hungary

La Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°88 – AKKA-ASP dominated qualifying for the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe final in Hungary with the Raffaele Marciello – Vincent Abril tandem.

The Italian fired first in Q1, setting the best lap in 1'43″049, 204 thousandths ahead of Luca Stolz (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°4 – Black Falcon).

The latter, in the running for the title, is the best placed of the drivers aiming for the World Challenge Europe crown, since the German is ahead of one of his rivals Mirko Bortolotti (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo n°63 – GRT), third to 0 ″359 but placed under investigation for potentially obstructing another car.

The top 5 is completed by Ricky Collard (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 n°76 – R-Motorsport) and Kelvin van der Linde (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°66 – Attempto Racing). Simon Gachet hoists his No. 8 Audi R3 LMS GT25 Evo – Saintéloc Racing into 7th position behind Thomas Neubeuer (No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT89 – AKKA-ASP), author of pole in the Silver Cup.

Less success for championship leaders Marco Mapelli and Andrea Caldarelli, Mapelli only finishing 8th in the No. 3 Lamborghini Huracan GT563 Evo – FFF Racing. Rinat Salikhov (Ferrari 488 GT3 n°333 – Rinaldi Racing) dominates the Pro-Am session.

Abril alone under 1'43" in Q2

Q2 also saw the #88 Mercedes dominate the debates with Vincent Abril, best time in 1'42″994, 92 thousandths ahead of Christian Engelhart, Mirko Bortolotti's teammate on the #3 Lamborghini Huracan GT63 Evo – GRT.

Dries Vanthoor places the first Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°1 – Team WRT in third position on the grid for the Sunday race at 0″160, ahead of Maro Engel (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°4 – Black Falcon) and Felipe Fraga ( Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°90 – AKKA-ASP) dominates the Silver Cup.

Among the crews vying for the title, Christopher Haase finished 7th with the No. 8 Audi R3 LMS GT25 Evo – Saintéloc Racing, while the poor operation was to blame for Andrea Caldarelli, only 13th by a half -second on the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo n°563 – FFF Racing.