Stadler Motorsports, the team which won the Dubai 24 Hours, is trying hard to score a double in the 24H Series. Adrian Amstutz’s time of 1:50.407 means that the number 20 Porsche 997 GT3 R will start today’s 12 Hours from pole position.
The time was set early but remained under threat as several teams came quite close to the top spot. The race promises to provide close competition as two Ferrari entries, (Scuderia Praha and AF Corse) and two Mercedes-Benz entries (Hofor Racing and GDL Racing) regularly swapped quick times during an action packed 90-minute qualifying session.
A big surprise came from the number 19 GDL Racing Porsche. Although it is “only” a 997 class car, it was quickly amongst the faster A6 class entries. Marco Mapelli ended up sixth overall in the 37-car starting grid and best in class.
Almost equally surprising was a great early effort by Jeremy Reymond in the number 57 GC Autombile entry which took the SP2 class pole and was briefly in the overall lead. There was a thrilling late session battle in the SP3 class. It was waged between several Ginettas with the Italian based Nova Racing team coming out on top, Maurizio Copetti recording a fine 2:00.992.
Most teams adopted a quite easy approach at the start of qualifying. With a full 90 minutes ahead of them only about 10 cars elected to take to the track during the opening minutes. The first flying lap was a very modest 2:02.013 by the No. 57 GC Automobile SP2 class silhouette special. This improved to a more representative 1:53.618 about 10 minutes later. This is already well under the 1:55 reference time set for the class. The race regulations include a sliding scale of reference times for the SP2 and SP3 classes—slower cars are rewarded with slightly higher fuel capacity allowances.
The first proper lapping began about 20-25 minutes into the session when the Stadler Porsche vaulted to the top with an impressive 1:50.972, ratcheting a bit quicker two laps later with a 1:50.497. There was a bit of drama when the AF Corse Ferrari, which had been fourth quickest, came to a dead halt on the racing line. Local waving yellows allowed everyone to avoid the No. 7 car and it continued under its own power about 30 seconds later.
The No. 3 Fach Auto Tech Porsche improved to 1:53.330, demoting the otherwise impressive No. 57 GC to third overall. Then it was the Porsche’s turn to stop at the same spot as had the Ferrari. Apart from the SP2 class leading GC the other cars in the top eight overall were all A6 class entries. Three Mercedes (Hofor No. 1, GDL No. 5, and Car Collection No. 2) were swapping places with the No. 9 Scuderia Praha Ferrari. The Car Collection Mercedes spent most of the earlier practice period in the pits repairing a broken shock mount.
The GDL team Porsche, No. 18, was another quick runner in the 997 class from ninth overall. It was chased by the No. 17 Ruffier Racing entry. At about the one hour mark of the session the French entered Porsche moved ahead with a 1:58.285.
The other class leaders included the No. 63 Speedworks Ginetta, sitting atop SP3 with a 2:00.992 by Christian Dick at 11th overall. It was also the first car not to have broken the two-minute barrier. The Red Camel Audi R8 (No. 51) and the No. 67 Nova Race Ginetta were in close contention for that class’ pole position.
The RTR Projects BMW E46 M3 GTR was quickest in A5 at 2:03.221 (14th overall). Its main competition, the No. 208 Team Altran Peugeot 208 GTi was just a fraction slower. The most rapid diesel powered car was the other Red Camel entry, the No. 61 Seat. At 23rd overall its time of 2:10.556 was about two seconds better than the next car in class, the No. 8 KPM Racing Volkswagen Golf. The smaller petrol class, A2, was being lead by the No. 41 Racing Team Switzerland Renault Clio. Less than a half second behind was the next in class car, also a Renault, Denmark’s Team Sally Racing entry. The KPM Golf would later move to the top diesel spot with a good lap by Tom Onslow-Cole.
Two of the A6 cars improved during the middle moments of the session. The No. 7 AF Corse Ferrari returned after its loss of power and reeled off a 1:53.227, good enough for third overall. The other car that had stopped on course, the No. 3 Fach Auto Tech Porsche, also moved up the charts. Then as the qualifying session headed towards its later stages the Czech entered Ferrari’s 1:52.354 proved good enough for third overall.
Perhaps the most impressive of all was the GDL Porsche, No. 19, which vaulted to second overall and best in the 997 class with a 1:52.247. The Stadler team seemed to rest on their laurels a bit. But this became of concern when with about 20 minutes to go the No. 9 Scuderia Praha Ferrari set a 1:50.856—good for 2nd overall. Any attempts at improvement were stymied by a series of minor offs by other competitors which created local yellow / no passing situations. One of those taking to the gravel was the No. 22 Mercedes. The No. 67 Nova Racing Ginetta provided some late session drama by taking the top spot in SP3 away from the Speedworks team. The Besaplast Mini (No.44) only entered the session in the closing minutes since they had to change back to their practice engine—their planned race engine being defective). Almost immediately Fredrik Lestrup was up to speed and took the A2 pole spot away from Racing Team Switzerland. “Not bad for having almost no practice time here,” commented the Swedish driver.
POS No COMPETITOR/DRIVER NAT TEAM CAR GR CL QUA GAP PEN LAP
1 20 STADLER MOTORSP SUI STADLER MOTORSPORT PORSCHE 997 GT3 R 40 A6 1’50.407 171.021 4
(MATTER Marcel – AMSTUTZ Adrian – INEICHEN Mark)
2 7 AF CORSE ITA AF CORSE FERRARI 458 ITALIA G A6 1’50.691 0.284 170.582 35
(TALKANITSA Sr Alexander – TALKANITSA Jr Alexander – BARREIROS Felipe – MELNKOV Ilya)
3 9 PRAHA SCUDERIA CZE SCUDERIA PRAHA FERRARI 458 ITALIA G A6 1’50.856 0.449 170.329 15
(PISARIK Jiri – JRILK Jaromir)
4 1 HOFOR-RACING SUI HOFOR RACING MERCEDES SLS AMG GT3 A6 1’51.802 1.395 168.887 14
(KROLL Michael – EGGIMANN Roland – FRANKENHOUT Christiaan – HEYER Kenneth)
5 3 FACH AUTO TECH SUI FACH AUTO TECH PORSCHE 997 GT3 R 40 A6 1’52.089 1.682 168.455 24
(WAGNER Marcel – BRUDER Heinz – ZOLIN Marco)
6 19 GDL 3 RACING SMR GDL RACING PORSCHE 997 CUP S 36 997 1’52.247 1.840 168.218 11
(KARMANOV Pavel – FECCHIO Roberto – MAPELLI Marco)
7 5 GDL 1 RACING SMR GDL RACING MERCEDES SLS AMG GT3 A6 1’53.182 2.775 166.828 15
(LIAM Lim Keong – TAN Gerald – FAMER Nigel)
8 57 GC AUTOMOBILE F FRA GC AUTOMOBILE FACTOR GC AUTOMOBILE GC 10 997 1’53.618 3.211 166.188 3
(PROVOST Franck Leone – AMROUCHE Lionel – REYMOND Jeremy)
9 2 CAR COLLECTION GER CAR COLLECTION MOTOR MERCEDES SLS AMG GT3 A6 1’54.755 4.348 164.541 24
(SCHMIDT Peter – EDELHOFF Gustav – SIEGLER Johannes – DALMO Wiggo)
10 11 LAS MORAS R.T NED LAS MORAS RACING TEA MEGANE TROPHY 3500cc 997 1’55.323 4.916 163.731 9
(BRAAMS Luc – BRAAMS Max – HUISMAN Duncan)
11 17 RUFFIER 1 RACIN FRA RUFFIER RACING 1 PORSCHE 997 CUP 3800 997 1’58.091 7.684 159.893 13
(LAFARGUE Patrice – LAFARGUE Paul – ALBERGEL Gabriel)
12 12 SPEED LOVER BEL SPEED LOVER PORSCHE 997 CUP 3800 997 1’58.115 7.708 159.861 22
(RICHARD Philippe – YVES PAQUES PIERRE – RIVAS Carlos)
13 18 GDL 2 RACING SMR GDL RACING PORSCHE 997 CUP S 36 997 1’58.711 8.304 159.058 10
(NIAL Malcom – PILATTI Marc)
14 67 N.RACE FIGHTERS ITA NOVA RACE FIGHTERS GINETTA G50 3500cc SP3 2’00.920 10.513 156.152 19
(MAGNONI Luca – COPETTI Maurizio – SCARPACCIO Luis – CRESSONI Matteo)
15 63 SPEEDWORKS MOTO ENG SPEEDWORKS MOTORSPOR GINETTA G50 3700cc SP3 2’00.992 10.585 156.059 14
(HUGHES Tony – DICK Christian – WARBURTON Ross William)
16 51 RED NL2 CAMEL – NED RED CAMEL – JORDANS AUDI R8 4200cc SP3 2’01.390 10.983 155.548 21
(BREUKERS Ivo – THIJSSEN Henk – NEARN Robert)
17 28 RTR PROJECTS CZE RTR PROJECTS BMW M3 E46 GTR 3200c A5 2’02.313 11.906 154.374 18
(MINIBERGER Tomas – VITEK Michal – PAULAVETS Siarhei)
18 208 TEAM ALTRAN FRA TEAM ALTRAN PEUGEOT 208 GTI 1600 A5 2’03.551 13.144 152.827 24
(RADERMECKER Vincent – LATINNE Ronnie – MARTIN DE ANDRES Gonzalo)
19 65 N.RACE THE CONQ ITA NORA RACE THE CONQUE GINETTA G50 3500cc SP3 2’04.101 13.694 152.150 22
(VESCOVI Alberto – PIGIONANTI Christian – LODENG Leif – RAYNERI Roberto)
20 10 BONK MOTORSPORT GER BONK MOTORSPORT BMW M3 GT4 4000cc SP3 2’05.206 14.799 150.807 15
(BURGHARDT Axel – BRAAMS Liesette – BONK Michael)
21 66 N.RACE VICTOIRE ITA NOVA RACE VICTOIRE GINETTA G50 3500cc SP3 2’07.270 16.863 148.361 21
(LEQUEUX Jean Pierre – CAPELLI Christophe – CIMADOMO Philippe)
22 26 WEC MOTORSPORT ENG WEC MOTORSPORT BMW M3 3200cc A5 2’07.398 16.991 148.212 24
(COX Dave – BORNESS Stephen – COX Jason)
23 27 HOFOR KUPPERRAC GER HOFOR KUPPERRACING BMW M3 3200cc A5 2’07.914 17.507 147.614 4
(KROLL Michael – KROLL Chantal – KROLL Martin – KUPPER Bernd)
24 32 PREFA RACING TE AUT REFA RACING TEAM AUS SEAT LEON SUPERCOPA A5 2’08.764 18.357 146.640 16
(KOGLER Michael – NIEDERTSCHEIDER Martin – LENZENWEGER Norbert)
25 8 KPM RACING ENG KPM RACING VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2000 D1 2’09.520 19.113 145.784 24
(ONSLOW COLE Tom – WHITE Paul – MORCILLO Javier – WALKER James)
26 52 RECY RACING TEA BEL RECY RACING TEA BMW 120D 2000cc D1 2’09.573 19.166 145.724 6
(DE VOCHT Jan – VAN LOO Johan – MEULDERS Wim)
27 44 BESAPLAST RACIN GER BESAPLAST RACING TEA BMW MINI COOPER S 16 A2 2’09.858 19.451 145.404 9
(KOVAC Franjo – TSCHORNIA Martin – LESTRUP Frederik)
28 61 RED NL1 CAMEL – NED RED CAMEL – JORDANS SEAT LEON TDI 2000cc D1 2’10.556 20.149 144.627 20
(KRESNIK Klaus – PUTH Christian – HUSTAK Adam)
29 41 SWITZERLAND SUI PRESENZA EU RACING T RENAULT CLIO CUP 200 A2 2’10.832 20.425 144.322 19
(STANCO Adriano – GOTSCHE Martin – STANCO Luigi – TANNER Stefan)
30 45 TEAM SALLY RACI DEN TEAM SALLY RACING RENAULT CLIO 3 2000c A2 2’11.131 20.724 143.993 8
(SALLY Martin – OBEL Peter – CHRISTENSEN Mads – SALLY PEDERSEN Jesper)
31 106 TEAM K-REJSER DEN TEAM K-REJSER RENAULT CLIO SPORT 2 A2 2’11.564 21.157 143.519 19
(KRISTENSEN Jacob – ENGELBRECHT Jan – CLAUSEN Martin)
32 42 SWITZERLAND SUI PRESENZA EU RACING T RENAULT CLIO CUP 200 A2 2’13.982 23.575 140.929 26
(SALZMANN Patrick – JAGGI Stephan – STANCO Luigi – TANNER Stefan)
33 43 AUTOSPORT GP FRA AUTOSPORT GP RENAULT CLIO IV 1600 A2 2’14.979 24.572 139.888 23
(BOULAY Antoine – RAFFIN Emmanuel – TRAYNARD Franck)
34 64 SPEED 2 LOVER BEL SPEED LOVER RENAULT CLIO 2000cc A2 2’15.545 25.138 139.304 20
(WOLF Patrick – CORRADO Mario)
35 55 COR EUSER RACIN NED COR EUSER RACING BMW 120D 2000cc D1 2’16.002 25.595 138.836 17
(LASSALLY Toto – BRIODY Jim – MILLER Lance)
36 53 MM MOTORSPORT ITA MM MOTORSPORT SEAT LEON TDI BERLIN D1 2’18.813 28.406 136.024 5
(BAMONTE Luigi – ROTA Francesco – SCARPELINI Pierluigi – MAGNO Carlo)
NQ 25 BLENDINI MOTORS ENG BLENDINI MOTORSPORT MAZDA MX5 2000cc A2 —
(RODGERS Anthony – LAWRIE Paul – HARTOP Jonathon)
Source: Creventic
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