Spa 24: Gotz leads Mercedes Superpole whitewash
The #86 HTP Mercedes will start tomorrow’s 24 Hours of Spa from pole position, after Max Gotz lead a Mercedes-dominated Superpole session at the Belgian circuit.
Photo by: Vision Sport Agency
Gotz, who was fastest in yesterday’s first qualifying session and second fastest in the combined times, made the most of the conditions at the end of the Superpole shootout, storming to pole with a 2m12.651s, more than three tenths clear of the field.
His cause was then helped when Shane van Gisbergen’s McLaren came to a halt on the Kiwi’s first flying lap, ending any chance that the provisional polesitter would snatch the top spot right at the end.
“I’m really happy to be on pole here,” said Gotz. “I’m really satisfied. It’s just a good position for the race. The race is a different thing, but it’s just nice to be on top.”
In what was a Mercedes Top 6, Clemens Schmid made it a HTP 1-2 with a lap that moved up him six spots compared to the regular qualifying sessions yesterday.
He was followed by Felix Rosenqvist in the #88 AKKA ASP Mercedes, Maro Engel in the #00 Team Black Mercedes, Maximilian Buhk in the #84 HTP Mercedes, and Dani Juncadella in the #56 Black Falcon Mercedes – which was also the best-placed Pro-Am entry.
The best-placed non-Mercedes entry wound up being the #28 Team WRT Audi with Laurens Vanthoor behind the wheel, the Belgian nearly nine-tenths down on Gotz’s pole time.
Top 20 Starting Grid
Pos | # | Team/Car | Drivers |
1 | 86 | Team HTP Mercedes | Maximilian Gotz, Gary Paffett, Thomas Jager |
2 | 85 | Team HTP Mercedes | Indy Dontje, Clemens Schmid, Luciano Bacheta |
3 | 88 | AKKA ASP Mercedes | Felix Rosenqvist, Tristan Vautier, Renger van der Zande |
4 | 00 | Black Falcon Mercedes | Maro Engel, Yelmer Buurman, Bernd Schneider |
5 | 84 | Team HTP Mercedes | Maximilian Buhk, Jazeman Jaafar, Dominik Baumann |
6 | 56 | Black Falcon Mercedes | Dani Juncadella, Oliver Morley, Miguel Toril, Abdulaziz Al Faisal |
7 | 28 | Team WRT Audi | Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast, Nico Muller |
8 | 74 | ISR Audi | Franck Perera, Nicolas Lapierre, Henry Hassid, Philippe Giauque |
9 | 16 | GRT Grasser Lamborghini | Mirko Bortolotti, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Rolf Ineichen |
10 | 8 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Maxime Soulte, Andy Soucek, Wolfgang Reip |
11 | 50 | AF Corse Ferrari | Palin Lathouras, Michele Rugolo, Alessandro Pier Guidi |
12 | 26 | Sainteloc Racing Audi | Christoper Haase, Mike Parisy, Gregory Guilvert |
13 | 2 | Team WRT Audi | Stuart Leonard, Robin Frijns, Michael Meadows |
14 | 6 | Team Phoenix Audi | Christopher Mies, Frank Stippler, Markus Winkelhock |
15 | 98 | Rowe Racing BMW | Nick Catsburg, Stef Dusseldorp, Dirk Werner |
16 | 24 | Team Parker Bentley | Ian Loggie, Tom Onslow-Cole, Callum Macleod, Andy Meyrick |
17 | 666 | Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini | Jon Minshaw, Phil Keen, Oliver Gavin, Joe Osborne |
18 | 7 | Bentley Team M-Sport | Guy Smith, Vincent Abril, Steven Kane |
19 | 99 | Rowe Racing BMW | Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin |
20 | 58 | Garage 59 McLaren | Shane van Gisbergen, Come Ledogar, Rob Bell |
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