WRT and AKKA-ASP take poles at Misano

Charles Weerts (Audi – Team WRT) and Raffaele Marciello (Mercedes – AKKA-ASP) took the two poles for the two races of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe in Misano in Italy, at the end of a session organized in overheated conditions on the banks of the Adriatic.

A superb performance in particular from the young Belgian driver of Team WRT who is competing in his first season in the Blancpain GT Series.

Q1

In a session where there were many stylistic tricks, particularly in the last sector, the red flag was displayed with 12′ remaining in the Q1 timer, following the exit of the track by Taylor Proto, in the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo n °555 – FFF Racing.

Andrea Caldarelli (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo no. 563 – FFF Racing) then took the lead in 1'34″783, 27 thousandths ahead of Luca Stolz (Mercedes-AMG GT3 no. 4 – Black Falcon).

Nico Bastian (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°89 – AKKA-ASP), Vincent Abril (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°88 – AKKA-ASP) then Ricky Collard (Aston Martin Vantage GT3 n°62 – R-Motorsport) join the party before Charles Weerts (Audi R8 LMS GT3 n°2 – Team WRT) puts everyone in agreement in 1'34″227.

Ricky Collard fails at 120 thousandths and will however start on the front row ahead of Andrea Caldarelli and Christian Engelhart (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo n°63 – GRT). Vincent Abril places the best Mercedes-AMG GT3 in fifth position ahead of Luca Stolz.

Seventh, Nico Bastian (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°89 – AKKA-ASP) dominates the Silver Cup category. Nyls Steivenart (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°26 – Saintéloc Racing) sets the benchmark time in Pro-Am.

Q2

The second qualifying saw the domination of the AKKA-ASP team with the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT88 of Raffaele Marciello, author of the reference time in 1'33"595, 145 thousandths ahead of Dries Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n °2 – Team WRT).

The Belgian had been hampered for a while by the No. 87 Mercedes – AKKA-ASP, but was able to improve under the checkered flag to finally take the front row.

Christopher Haase (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo n°25 – Saintéloc Racing) and Fabian Schiller (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°90 – AKKA-ASP), one time second before seeing his time canceled for exceeding the track limits, complete the second line.

The first Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo, the n°63 – GRT of Mirko Bortolotti set the 5th time ahead of the n°563 – FFF Racing of Caldarelli – Mapelli.

In the Silver Cup, Schiller dominates the category, while Jim Pla (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°87 – AKKA-ASP) dominates the Pro-Am. The first race will start this evening at 19:45 p.m., and will be followed live on video with commentary in French on our website.