Porsche Customer Teams Secure Four Superpole Spots at Spa
- Porsche Blog
- Jun 28
- 2 min read
Porsche customer teams showcased strong performance in qualifying for the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, with four teams securing coveted spots in the Superpole session. Schumacher CLRT led the charge, qualifying in an impressive third place, setting a positive tone for Porsche's presence in the endurance classic. The event, featuring 75 GT3 cars, is a highlight of the GT racing calendar.
Porsche Dominates Spa Qualifying with Four Superpole Entries
Four Porsche customer teams have successfully qualified for the Superpole session at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, demonstrating the strength and competitiveness of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. The qualifying session, which saw 75 GT3 cars vying for positions, was marked by challenging conditions including fluctuating temperatures and intermittent rain.
Key Takeaways
Schumacher CLRT secured the highest position among Porsche customer teams, qualifying third overall with an average lap time of 2:17.016 minutes.
Dinamic GT's No. 18 car qualified eleventh, while Rutronik Racing's No. 96 entry placed seventeenth.
Herberth Motorsport's No. 92 car, competing in the Gold Cup category, achieved a remarkable nineteenth place, earning one of only two Gold Cup Superpole spots.
The Superpole session, featuring the top 20 qualifiers, will determine the final grid positions for the endurance race.
Qualifying Highlights and Challenges
The four-part qualifying session was fraught with difficulties, particularly the opening segment. As dusk settled and temperatures dropped, a sudden downpour hit the track, leading to multiple red flags and interruptions. Despite these challenges, all five Porsche crews in Q1 managed to record valid times, keeping their Superpole aspirations alive.
Laurin Heinrich, driver of the No. 22 Porsche 911 GT3 R for Schumacher CLRT, commented on the challenging conditions: "Qualifying started later than planned for us due to the red flags, so I ended up driving entirely in the dark. The drying track didn’t make things easier." He expressed eagerness to compete for pole position in the Superpole.
Team Performances
Team | Car No. | Drivers | Qualifying Position | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Schumacher CLRT | Klaus Bachler, Ayhancan Güven, Laurin Heinrich | 3rd | Pro | |
Dinamic GT | Bastian Buus, Matt Campbell, Mathieu Jaminet | 11th | Pro | |
Rutronik Racing | Sven Müller, Patric Niederhauser, Alessio Picariello | 17th | Pro | |
Herberth Motorsport | Rolf Ineichen, Tim Heinemann, Joel Sturm | 19th | Gold Cup |
Sebastian Golz, Project Manager 911 GT3 R, praised the teams' efforts: "Four 911 GT3 R cars qualifying for the Superpole session is a solid result and gives us a positive outlook for Friday. Schumacher CLRT delivered a particularly strong performance." He also highlighted Herberth Motorsport's achievement as a "real surprise" for a Gold Cup competitor.
The Road Ahead: Superpole and Race Day
The 30-minute Superpole session is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 16:10 CEST, where the top 20 GT3 race cars will battle for pole position in individual time trials. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the world's largest GT3 race, will commence on Saturday at 16:30 CEST. The event is a crucial round for both the Intercontinental GT Challenge and the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, with championship points awarded at various stages of the race.
Fans can follow the race live via the official GT World Challenge app or through the live streaming and timing available on www.intercontinentalgtchallenge.com.
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