McLaren fastest after night qualifying for Blancpain 24 Hours of Spa

Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren)

Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren)Shane Van Gisbergen in the Garage 59 McLaren #58 set the fastest time during night qualifying for the 68th running of the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

Just 0.058s behind was the #86 AMG-Team HTP Motorsport Mercedes AMG driven by Maxi Gotz.

Describing his fastest lap, Shane van Gisbergen said: “It was a pretty tough start to the day with the weather but it got better and better. The car was not too good to begin with but we chipped away at the set-up and got there in the end. We were 19th at the end of the first qualifying session, so right on the edge and needed to do a better job tonight! Of course, that has only got us into the Super Pole shootout but we are happy with where we are.”

One of the 2013 Total 24 Hours of Spa winning drivers, Maxi Götz was on top at the end of the first 75-minute session. However Shane Van Gisbergen took advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures at the start of the night session to edge in front of the German driver.

Maxi Götz said: “I think the best time in practice was a 2m18.6s and I managed a point-five in qualifying. There were not many drivers under the 2m19s barrier either. I just wanted to get out there and find a space, which I managed to do. After that we were fairly confident no-one would beat the time.”

Dani Juncadella clocked the third fastest time overall with the #56 Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG and set the fastest time in the Pro-Am Cup.

At the end of the two hour session, the top 26 cars were separated by less than one second.

Pole position in the Am Cup went to the #888 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Niki Cadei, Nicola Cadei said: “I only needed three laps in the end, although we did spend some time fine-tuning the car during Pre-Qualifying. During my first lap I found a car in the middle of Blanchimont, which spoiled that run and kept us out of the Super Pole, which was our initial aim.”

Grégory Paisse took pole in the National Group at the wheel of the #230 SpeedLover Porsche saying: “It’s my first time in this event, so it’s a bit of a dream come true. It’s fantastic to drive here, with the best GT cars and drivers in the world. I don’t have words to describe my feelings.”

Dani Juncadella’s first session lap time was good enough to put his #56 Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG on top of the Pro-Am Cup, but since four Pro-Am Cup cars qualified for the Superpole shoot out, pole position in the category will be decided at the same time as the overall pole position.

Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren) Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren) Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren) Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren) Track action (Photo by Melissa Warren)

 

 

The grid positions 21 to 65 have been decided but the top-20 positions will be determined during the Superpole shoot out.

The 30-minute session will see each of the top 20 cars from the combination of the two qualifying sessions run two hot laps on a clear track. The results of this will determine the final positions at the front of the grid.

On Wednesday all 65 cars ran in convoy along the public roads between the circuit and Spa town. Thousands of people gathered in the town with more along the route to see the many marques in this series.

Cars from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan, Porsche were parked in front of the casino with drivers signing autographs before their briefing in the town’s theatre. The cars were then driven back to the circuit allowing one final experience for the crowds.

Parade (Photo by Melissa Warren) Parade (Photo by Melissa Warren) Parade (Photo by Melissa Warren) Parade (Photo by Melissa Warren)

 

 

 

Results

1 58 S.Van Gisbergen/C.Ledogar/R.Bell (Garage 59) 2:19.458 2:18.474
McLaren 650 S GT3 Garage 59

2 86 T.Jäger/G.Paffett/M.Götz (AMG – Team HTP Motorsport) 2:18.532 2:21.410 0.058
Mercedes-AMG GT3 HTP Motorsport

3 56 O.Morley/M.Toril/A.Bin Turki Al Faisal/D.Juncadella (Black Falcon) 2:18.603 2:22.608 0.129
PAM Mercedes-AMG GT3 Black Falcon

4 28 L.Vanthoor/R.Rast/N.Müller (Audi Sport Team WRT) 2:18.659 2:20.652 0.185
Audi R8 LMS Belgian Audi Club Team WRT

5 88 T.Vautier/F.Rosenqvist/R.Van der Zande (AMG – Team AKKA ASP) 2:18.729 2:19.902 0.255
Mercedes-AMG GT3 AKKA ASP

6 26 G.Guilvert/M.Parisy/C.Haase (Sainteloc Racing) 2:19.082 2:18.764 0.290
Audi R8 LMS Sainteloc Junior Team

7 84 D.Baumann/J.Jaafar/M.Buhk (AMG – Team HTP Motorsport) 2:19.403 2:18.787 0.313
Mercedes-AMG GT3 HTP Motorsport

8 85 I.Dontje/C.Schmid/L.Bacheta (HTP Motorsport) 2:19.285 2:18.801 0.327
Mercedes-AMG GT3 HTP Motorsport

9 8 M.Soulet/A.Soucek/W.Reip (Bentley Team M-Sport) 2:19.211 2:18.897 0.423
Bentley Continental GT3 Bentley Team M-Sport
10 00 M.Engel/Y.Buurman/B.Schneider (AMG – Team Black Falcon) 2:18.949 2:23.074 0.475
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Black Falcon

11 7 G.Smith/V.Abril/S.Kane (Bentley Team M-Sport) 2:19.784 2:18.968 0.494
Bentley Continental GT3 Bentley Team M-Sport

12 50 P.Lathouras/M.Rugolo/A.Pier Guidi (AF Corse) 2:20.172 2:19.099 0.625
Ferrari 488 GT3 Spirit Of Race

13 74 F.Perera/N.Lapierre/H.Hassid/P.Giauque (ISR) 2:19.100 2:21.347 0.626
PAM Audi R8 LMS ISR

14 2 S.Leonard/R.Frijns/M.Meadows (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 2:19.111 2:22.102 0.637
Audi R8 LMS Belgian Audi Club Team WRT

15 24 I.Loggie/T.Onslow-Cole/C.Macleod/A.Meyrick (Team Parker Racing) 2:19.144 2:23.509 0.670
PAM Bentley Continental GT3 Team Parker Racing

16 99 A.Sims/P.Eng/M.Martin (Rowe Racing) 2:19.188 2:19.977 0.714
BMW F13 M6 GT3 Rowe Racing

17 16 M.Bortolotti/J.Bleekemolen/R.Ineichen (GRT Grasser Racing Team) 2:19.397 2:19.236 0.762
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 GRT Grasser Racing Team

18 6 C.Mies/F.Stippler/M.Winkelhock Audi Sport Team Phoenix 2:19.246 2:21.542 0.772
Audi R8 LMS Audi Sport Team Phoenix

19 98 N.Catsburg/S.Dusseldorp/D.Werner (Rowe Racing) 2:19.255 2:19.380 0.781
BMW F13 M6 GT3 Rowe Racing

20 666 J.Minshaw/P.Keen/O.Gavin/J.Osborne (Barwell Motorsport) 2:19.281 2:22.484 0.807
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Barwell Motorsport

21 78 M.Attard/L.Machitski/M.Mapelli/K.Tom (Barwell Motorsport) 2:20.300 2:19.356 0.882
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Barwell Motorsport

22 34 J.Pisarik/J.Kral/M.Malucelli/D.Fumanelli (Scuderia Praha) 2:19.407 2:19.384 0.910
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 Scuderia Praha

23 77 C.Mateu/J.Häring/N.Armindo/K.Estre (Attempto Racing) 2:19.827 2:19.425 0.951
PAM Porsche 911 GT3 R Attempto Racing

24 44 A.Al Harthy/D.Modell/J.Adam/D.Turner (Oman Racing Team) 2:21.684 2:19.458 0.984
PAM Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Oman Racing Team

25 25 C.Kelders/M.Rostan/F.Bouvy/M.Bonanomi (Sainteloc Racing) 2:19.493 2:21.442 1.019
PAM Audi R8 LMS Sainteloc Junior Team

26 76 P.Pilet/M.Jousse/R.Narac/T.Cornac (IMSA Performance) 2:19.892 2:22.872 1.418
PAM Porsche 911 GT3 R Raymond Narac

27 1 F.Vervisch/D.Vanthoor/W.Stevens (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 2:19.930 2:21.840 1.456
Audi R8 LMS Belgian Audi Club Team WRT

28 55 P.Perazzini/T.Flohr/M.Cioci/F.Castellacci (AT Racing) 2:20.594 2:19.930 1.456
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 AT Racing

29 11 M.Broniszewski/A.Bonacini/A.Rizzoli/G.Piccini (Kessel Racing) 2:19.994 2:19.973 1.499
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 Kessel Racing

30 100 L.Machiels/M.Van Splunteren/J.Mul/G.Venturini (Attempto Racing) 2:20.072 2:21.217 1.598
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Attempto Racing

31 57 H.Haupt/A.Simonsen/A.Christodoulou (Black Falcon) 2:20.096 1.622
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Black Falcon

32 52 D.Cameron/A.Scott/M.Griffin/R.Ragazzi (AF Corse) 2:20.403 2:20.127 1.653
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 AF Corse

33 10 M.Beretta/G.Berton/S.Costantini/S.Gattuso (Ombra Racing) 2:26.991 2:20.253 1.779
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Ombra Racing

34 101 F.Babini/P.Niederhauser/D.Zampieri (Attempto Racing) 2:20.286 2:23.740 1.812
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Attempto Racing

35 888 M.Zanuttini/V.Gitlin/L.Talbot/N.Cadei (Kessel Racing) 2:20.339 2:20.691 1.865
AM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Kessel Racing
36 75 F.Salaquarda/E.Mortara/M.Stockinger (ISR) 2:20.355 2:22.751 1.881
Audi R8 LMS ISR

37 14 L.Frey/S.Ortelli/A.Costa (Emil Frey Racing) 2:20.582 2:20.373 1.899
Emil Frey Jaguar G3 Emil Frey Racing

38 59 S.Moore/A.Fontana/A.Watson (Garage 59) 2:20.405 2:20.626 1.931
McLaren 650 S GT3 Garage 59

39 114 J.Hirschi/C.Klien/M.Palttala (Emil Frey Racing) 2:20.410 2:21.224 1.936
Emil Frey Jaguar G3 Emil Frey Racing

40 53 I.Motoaki/L.Bontempelli/O.Beretta/G.Fisichella (AF Corse) 2:20.418 2:21.406 1.944
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 AF Corse

41 19 A.Piccini/L.Stolz/M.Beretta (GRT Grasser Racing Team) 2:20.427 2:20.453 1.953
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 GRT Grasser Racing Team

42 89 D.Perfetti/L.Cazenave/M.Lyons/M.Moullin Traffort (AKKA ASP) 2:20.546 2:24.935 2.072
PAM Mercedes-AMG GT3 AKKA ASP

43 4 A.De Leener/B.Baguette/P.Kaffer (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 2:20.608 2:21.722 2.134
Audi R8 LMS Team WRT

44 23 L.Ordonez/M.Takaboshi/A.Buncombe (Nissan GT Academy Team RJN) 2:20.667 2:20.614 2.140
Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN

45 3 F.Albuquerque/R.Baptista/S.Jimenez (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 2:22.049 2:20.694 2.220
Audi R8 LMS Team WRT

46 51 P.Mann/F.Guedes/R.Mastronardi/M.Cressoni (AF Corse) 2:21.896 2:20.726 2.252
AM Ferrari 488 GT3 Spirit Of Race

47 40 F.Geri/G.Romanelli/N.Schiro/D.Mancinelli (Easy Race) 2:20.824 2:20.761 2.287
PAM Ferrari 488 GT3 Easy Race

48 15 M.Koebolt/G.Roda/S.Colombo/M.Tomczyk (BMW Team Italia) 2:21.078 2:21.785 2.604
PAM BMW F13 M6 GT3 BMW Team Italia

49 60 B.Senna/D.Tappy/P.Derani (Garage 59) 2:21.142 2:22.746 2.668
McLaren 650 S GT3 Garage 59

50 27 M.Blanchemain/G.Lallement/V.Hasse Clot/J.Buffin (Sainteloc Racing) 2:21.875 2:21.243 2.769
AM Audi R8 LMS Ultra Sainteloc Junior Team

51 132 R.Lago/S.Owen/D.Russell/J.Webb (Lago Racing) 2:36.695 2:21.632 3.158
PAM Lamborghini Gallardo R-EX Roger Lago

52 12 O.Grotz/K.Ojjeh/J.Darras/A.Santamato (Boutsen Ginion Racing) 2:21.734 2:23.409 3.260
PAM BMW F13 M6 GT3 Boutsen Ginion Racing

53 29 C.Zöchling/J.Gounon/L.Rettenbacher/R.Breuters (Konrad Motorsport) 2:23.468 2:21.795 3.321
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Konrad Motorsport

54 333 P.Ehret/R.Salikhov/A.Mattschull/M.Seefried (Rinaldi Racing) 2:21.906 2:21.866 3.392
AM Ferrari 488 GT3 Rinaldi Racing

55 90 E.Perez Companc/R.Giammaria/A.Balzan (AF Corse) 2:21.880 2:22.848 3.406
Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Spirit Of Race

56 38 M.Cerruti/L.Spinelli/C.Sbirazzuoli/G.Giraudi (Antonelli Motorsport) 2:24.135 2:21.931 3.457
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Antonelli Motorsport

57 49 A.Moiseev/S.Lemeret/D.Rizzo/R.Aguas (Kaspersky Motorsport) 2:22.307 2:22.007 3.533
AM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Spirit Of Race

58 63 D.Alessi/N.Pohler/A.Fordjbach/D.Andersen (GRT Grasser Racing Team) 2:22.120 2:25.256 3.646
PAM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 GRT Grasser Racing Team

59 30 D.Pierce/C.Harris/C.Rosenblad/D.Perel (Team Parker Racing) 2:22.206 2:22.529 3.732
AM Bentley Continental GT3 Team Parker Racing

60 22 R.Sanchez/R.Sarazin/S.Walkinshaw/M.Simmons (Nissan GT Academy Team RJN) 2:22.661 2:22.299 3.825
PAM Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN

61 69 M.Konopka/A.Lewandowski/T.Myszkowski/Z.Mikula (ARC Bratislava) 2:23.946 2:27.554 5.472
AM Lamborghini Huracan GT3 ARC Bratislava

62 41 R.Brandela/T.Buret/B.Delhez/M.Petit (Classic & Modern Racing) 2:23.990 2:23.992 5.516
AM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Classic & Modern Racing

63 42 T.Nicolle/D.Loger/E.Mouez/S.Debs (Classic & Modern Racing) 2:24.063 2:25.970 5.589
AM Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 Classic & Modern Racing

64 230 W.Meulders/G.Paisse/Y.Päque Pierre/P.Richard (SpeedLover) 2:31.761 2:37.990 13.287
National GPororuspche 991 GT3 Cup SpeedLover

65 911 F.Notari/J.Bachelier/Y.Mallegol/H.Blank (RMS) 2:33.653 2:33.333 14.859
National GPororuspche 991 GT3 Cup Jean-Marc Bachelier  By Melissa Warren

Written by