Elite Motorsport bounced back from mechanical woes in yesterday’s race by claiming its third International GT Open pole position thanks to Tom Emson at the Hungaroring.
The British squad carried out an overnight engine change after retiring from the first of two sprint races this weekend, as Emson and his teammate Tom Lebbon are once again in an ideal position to defend their championship lead.
“After our issues yesterday, it’s a good way to bounce back and put it on pole for today,” Emson said after the session. “So we’ll see what we can do in the race, but after yesterday’s issues, it’s a really nice feeling.
“Slightly colder today. We’ve set up the car for it, so I think it’s worked. After yesterday’s issue [the championship fight] is a bit closer but still a long way to go.”
Emson improved on his outright fastest lap time with the threat of #28 Motopark Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo driver Dominik Baumann throughout.
In the end, Emson’s 1:42.113 lap time situated him 0.112 seconds ahead of Baumann’s 1:42.225, who both share the front row of the starting grid.
Filip Salaquarda impressed by taking third overall and pole position in the Pro-Am category for the #75 Team ISR Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO 2 with a time of 1:42.435.
Zac Meakin’s #33 Greystone GT McLaren GT3 Evo was just behind in fourth position, having set a lap of 1:42.457, making it four different manufacturers in the top four.
Yannick Mettler claimed fifth position and second in the Pro-Am order after his lap time of 1:42.468 in his CBRX by SPS Mercedes, followed by Elite’s nearest championship rival in the form of the #71 Motopark Mercedes, which qualified sixth in the hands of Christian Mansell (1:42.523).
Official Ferrari driver Tomasco Mosca put his #51 AF Corse Ferrari in seventh (1:42.534) ahead of the other #96 AF Corse Ferrari driven by another works driver, Thomas Neubauer (1:42.545).
Leonardo Moncini secured ninth place in his #63 Scuderia Villorba Corse Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 after his 1:42.640 lap time.
In 10th overall and third in Pro-Am, Karol Basz set a 1:42.642 in his #777 Olimp Racing Ferrari ahead of yesterday’s race winner, ZRS Motorsport. Pietro Armanni managed a 1:42.874 at the wheel of his #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.
Fabian Dybionka was next, fourth in the Pro-Am order, having extracted a 1:43.106 from his #7 PTT Racing BMW M4 GT3 Evo.
Then it was the Am class pole-sitter Krystian Korzeniowski in 13th position outright for the #5 Olimp Racing Ferrari (1:43.115).
Just behind him was the #6 Baron Motorsport Ferrari (pre-generation) after Adrian Lewandowski’s 1:43.447 lap time.
Charles Bateman put Blackthorn’s #97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo 15th outright, fifth in Pro-Am, with a 1:43.654.
Track Focussed’s #88 McLaren was next in the hands of James Kell, who completed a fastest lap of 1:43.661.
Galid Osman was the next Am competitor, three places behind the Baron Ferrari in 17th overall, in the #16 AF Corse Ferrari, which won the category in yesterday’s race (1:43.663).
Seweryn Mazur followed in the #79 Sendom Racing Lamborghini (1:43.951), ahead of Csaba Walter’s #500 Gamota Racing BMW (1:43.997), and the #14 Good Speed Racing Aston Martin of Piotr Wira (1:44.104).
Fach Auto Tech’s #12 Porsche was in 21st outright and seventh in the Am category, after Joel Monegro’s 1:44.153.
Saintéloc Racing’s Michaël Blanchemain was next in the Pro-Am-entered #26 Audi (1:44.174) ahead of Fach Auto Tech’s Pro-Am-entered #11 Porsche driven by Alexander Schwarzer (1:44.277).
Rey Acosta lines up 24th for today’s race in the #107 AF Corse Ferrari (1:45.175), followed by Lauren De Meeus’s #55 (Pro-Am) AF Corse Ferrari (1:45.584).
Alfredo Hernández rounded out the 26-car field in the Grupo Prom Racing Mercedes (1:46.469).
Today’s 60-minute sprint race gets underway at 13:45 CEST/local time and is livestreamed on the International GT Open YouTube channel.
Image courtesy of GT Open
