Orange Racing by JMH’s #67 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo duo of Simon Orange and Marcus Clutton have inherited the British GT pole position at Spa-Francorchamps.
2 Seas Motorsport’s #18 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo initially took pole position before failing post-qualifying scrutineering.
Kevin Tse secured provisional pole during his Q1 session, with his #18 2 Seas Mercedes teammate Ben Green finalising the top spot by beating their closest threat to pole, the #67 Orange Racing by JMH McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
Unfortunately, the #18 Mercedes was found to be under the 95mm minimum front ride height, measured at 91.7mm on the front left and 93.2 on the front right, meaning they will start at the back of the GT3 grid.
The #18 Mercedes pair’s combined lap time of 4:37.065 was nulled, leaving the #67 McLaren duo’s 4:37.963 as the top lap time.
“Traffic will play a big role tomorrow,” Tse referred to the combined British GT and FFSA GT fields, with 54 cars sharing the 120-minute race.
“So whoever is smarter on traffic will gain tons of lap time on track, so let’s say it’ll be everyone’s game.”
Q1 in GT3 was disrupted with a red flag for 2022 British GT champion Ian Loggie, having run wide at the exit of Pouhon out to the gravel before losing the rear of his #15 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG at the exit of Piff Paff.
He buried the front-left corner of his Mercedes into the tyre barrier before it was pulled out, evidently unable to continue in qualifying and prematurely ending GT3 Q1.
Optimum Motorsport’s #77 McLaren claimed second place in the hands of Morgan Tillbrook and Ben Barnicoat with their combined time of 4:38.356.
Third place for tomorrow’s grid will be the #78 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 shared by Alex Martin and Jarrod Waberski, setting a combined time of 4:39.055 to take pole in the GT3 Silver-Am category.
Fourth was taken by Beechdean’s championship-leading #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo crew of Andrew Howard and Ross Gunn, with a combined effort of 4:39.171.
Optimum Motorsport’s #90 McLaren of Marc Warren and Jack Brown took fifth with their combined 4:39.199, second in GT3 Silver-Am.
Rodin Motorsport’s #13 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo of Cameron Campbell and Josh Buchan followed in sixth with a 4:40.663, third in GT3 Silver-Am.
Century Motorsport’s #44 BMW M4 GT3 Evo of Jonathon Beeson and Charles Clark followed with their combined time of 4:41.205, another GT3 Silver-Am protagonist.
The #9 Paddock Motorsport McLaren of Mark Smith and Martin Plowman (4:41.510) was eighth, ahead of the #3 Optimum McLaren of Mike Price and Callum Macleod (4:43.502).
Orange Racing by JMH’s #69 McLaren pairing starts 10th with Steven Lake and Tom Wood’s 4:44.605.
Barwell’s two-time British GT champion, Rob Collard, sought heartbreak after losing his two fastest lap times to track limits, having provisionally lined up second-quickest behind Tse.
As Collard’s teammate, Hugo Cook, recorded a lap time in the #63 Barwell Lamborghini, they will start from 11th.
Both 2 Seas Mercedes entries start from the back row, as Loggie’s #15 2 Seas Mercedes teammate, Aaron Walker, was unable to set any lap times because of the damage, joined by the disqualified #18 2 Seas Mercedes.
Optimum Motorsport’s Stanton & Porter Take Pole In GT4
Optimum Motorsport’s #59 McLaren Artura GT4 pairing of Josh Stanton and Mikey Porter, the latter driver familiar with racing GT3s in British GT and impressing in his first race weekend in the Artura.
Porter filled in late for Luca Hopkinson due to unforeseen circumstances, finalising pole position in GT4 and the Silver Cup class.
Together, the #59 McLaren duo topped both of their respective qualifying sessions to a combined 4:58.667.
“It’s been a fantastic way to come back from here,” said Stanton, whose provisional pole lap time was his final and only registered flying lap after losing his previous two to track limits.
“It’s been a really tough few weeks for both the team and us, so enormous thanks to them and to everyone for their support in getting us back here.
“But yeah, fantastic result today and hopefully we can back it up tomorrow.
“Absolutely mega to be back in British GT,” added Porter.
“Literally got the call at 9 am yesterday, packed my bag, got on the Eurotunnel, and I came straight here.
“My first time also driving the Artura as well in a race environment. But yeah, the car’s absolutely mega, the team have done an amazing job.
“Josh had done an amazing job on his first qualy. So kind of just bringing it home for me because he did such a great job.”
Paddock Motorsport joins the Optimum on an all-McLaren GT4 front row, with the #84 crew of Blake Angliss and Revie Lake’s combined effort, a 5:00.147.
Third in GT4 was the #24 Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 Evo of Branden Templeton and Jack Collins, their time being a 5:00.317.
However, the #24 BMW was found to be under the minimum front ride height, thus disqualifying it. Instead of 95mm, it measured 153.5mm on the front left.
Championship leaders, Innovation Racing, inherited third with their #74 Ginetta G56 GT4 Evo drivers Hadley Simpson and Thomas Holland doing a 5:00.652.
Toro Verde GT’s #42 Ginetta took Pro-Am pole with a 5:01.910 by Luke Shaw and Jack Mitchell.
In fifth position were the GT4 winners last time out, Daniel Lavery and Darren Turner in the #27 Grange Racing by FSR Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 Evo (5:02.122).
Toro Verde GT’s #8 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS were sixth with Tom Bradshaw and Ian Duggan’s 5:04.300 ahead of the #40 Fox Motorsport Aston Martin of James Townsend and Joe Wheeler (5:04.945).
The #61 West Surrey Racing BMW of Colin Turkington, who sgoing second-fastest in his session, and his teammate Ernie Graham were eighth (5:06.495) ahead of GBR Stratton’s #97 Aston Martin of Ronan Pearson and John Hartshorne (5:07.297).
Jessica Hawkins unfortunately ran quite wide after taking provisional fifth in her session, almost looking like she was rallying across the gravel at Courb Paul Frère, but kept it out of the wall; however, damaging the underfloor.
This meant Will Orton could not take the #21 MK Racing Aston Martin in his session, putting them 10th in the GT4 field, as the #24 Century BMW will start in last position.
The fourth round of the 2026 British GT Championship commences tomorrow at 13:20 BST or 14:20 CEST/local time.
