GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 sets fastest time in qualifying and receives penalty

As usual, qualifying for the 24 Hours of Spa was split into four sessions. The overall result was determined by the average time across the four sessions. Cars with only three drivers took part in sessions two to four only. The 32 fastest cars will battle it out for the best starting position in the Super Pole on Friday evening.

The fastest lap in the first segment was set by Salman Owega in the Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3. The former ADAC GT Masters champion completed the circuit in 2:17.867 minutes.

The second segment for the Bronze Cup and Pro-Am cars had to be interrupted after Reinhold Krahn, in the Car Collection Porsche 911 GT3 R, was spun round by Jordan Boisson in the Fagnes section and became stuck in the gravel trap.

Just three minutes after the session resumed, the Bronze Cup and Pro-Am segment was interrupted once again. Kenzie Beecroft spun in the razoon – more than racing Porsche, and Mathieu Castelein, in the Haas RT Audi, was unable to avoid the collision.

Alessio Rovera in the AF Corse Ferrari set the fastest time in the second segment. The Ferrari ace completed the lap in 2:17.012 minutes.

Simon Gachet in the CSA Racing McLaren caused a real surprise when he set the fastest time in the third segment. He completed the circuit in 2:16.685 minutes.

In the fourth segment, Fabian Schiller set the fastest lap. The Mercedes-AMG ace completed the circuit in 2:16.817 minutes.

In terms of the combined overall time, the GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Maxime Martin, Maximilian Götz and Schiller set the fastest lap. The combined time across the three sessions was 2:17.049.

Alessio Rovera, Tommaso Mosca and Nicklas Nielsen finished the session in second place. The trio were 0.019 seconds off the fastest time.

The Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining and Bastian Buus rounded off the top three.

24 Hours of Spa Qualifying Results (Top 10):

1. Maxime Martin/Maximilian Götz/Fabian Schiller – GetSpeed – Mercedes-AMG GT3

2. Alessio Rovera/Tommaso Mosca/Nicklas Nielsen – AF Corse – Ferrari 296 GT3

3. Ricardo Feller/Thomas Preining/Bastian Buus – Lionspeed GP – Porsche 911 GT3 R

4. Morris Schuring/Dorian Boccolacci/Alessio Picariello – Boutsen VDS – Porsche 911 GT3 R

5. Lilou Wadoux/Arthur Leclerc/Sean Gelael – AF Corse – Ferrari 296 GT3

6. Lucas Auer/Luca Stolz/Maro Engel – WINWARD Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

7. Joseph Loake/Dean MacDonald/Marvin Kirchhöfer – Garage 59 – McLaren 720S GT3

8. Daniel Juncadella/Chris Lulham/Jules Gounon – Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

9. Mattia Drudi/Marco Sörensen/Nicki Thiim – Comtoyou Racing – Aston Martin Vantage GT3

10. Thomas Fleming/Louis Prette/Benjamin Goethe – Garage 59 – McLaren 720S GT3

Subsequent harsh penalty for GetSpeed’s Mercedes-AMG GT3

GetSpeed loses the fastest qualifying time at the 24 Hours of Spa. Maxime Martin, Maximilian Götz and Fabian Schiller consequently lose the fastest qualifying time and their place in the Superpole.

The stewards penalised the Mercedes-AMG team from Meuspath and struck out all the team’s lap times from the third qualifying segment.

The reason for the penalty was that the team carried out work on the car at the end of Qualifying 3. Pebbles had to be removed from the brake disc following a minor run-off, which the mechanics carried out in the pit lane. This contravenes the GT World Challenge Europe regulations, which prohibit work on the car during qualifying.

As a result, the car will have to start the race from the back of the field.