The grids are now set for the two FIA GT Nations Cup Qualifying Races in Bahrain, Belgium taking Pole for both hour-long encounter which will be used to set the grid for tomorrow’s Main Race.
Mike den Tandt was the star of the first session, which saw the Bronze drivers take on the Bahrain International Circuit to decide the grid for the first Qualifying Race.
He set a 2:01.805 to put his Belgium Audi R8 LMS on provisional pole, but that wasn’t quite enough. Team United Kingdom’s Chris Buncombe set a 2:01.750 to take the top spot in his Ferrari 488 GT3, prompting den Tandt to push on and try to improve his time.
And in the end, he did, setting a 2:01.397 in the WRT-run Audi to take back provisional pole position. Buncombe then pitted, sealing the deal for Belgium
“We made big progress today, we hope to continue like this. The car felt very good,” den Tandt said.
Buncombe added: “I’m really happy with our position, a front row start is great, I couldn’t ask for more.”
Third at the end was Argentina, Christopher Balbiani taking thid with a 2:02.120 in the closing minutes of the session in his Lamborghini Huracan GT3. Salih Yoluc in the team Turkey Mercedes also improved late, pushing Piti Bhirombhakdi’s Thailand Ferrari to fifth.
Belarus, Sweden, Italy, Hong Kong and Mexico completed the top 10.
In Qualfying 2, it was den Tandt’s teammate Charles Weerts who delivered the goods and ensured that WRT and Belgium will start from both Qualifying Races on pole.
His best time was a 2:00.136, half a second up on the nearest rival, which on this occasion was the Denmark Ferrari driven by Nicklas Nielsen.
“I’m really happy to make such a great start to the weekend,” said Weerts.
Third was Turkey, Ayhancan Guven making it two strong grid positions for the team, after Yoluc put the car fourth for Race 1.
The Team France Mercedes completed the second row, Jim Pla the fastest man early in the session, before gradually falling to fourth with his banker lap of 2:00.758. Matteo Cressoni rounded out the top five for Italy.
The remaining five spots in the top ten were taken by United Kingdom, Argentina, PR China, Germany and Sweden.
Next up for the FIA GT Nations Cup runners is the first Qualufying race later today at 19:30 local time.
Photos courtesy of FIA GT Nations Cup
