Kessel Racing will start this evening's Sprint Cup race at Magny-Cours from P1 overall after Dennis Marschall became the seventh driver in as many races to secure the ROWE Pole Position Award in a Sprint Cup qualifying session.
Though the #74 Ferrari competes in the Bronze Cup class, the result was by no means a surprise: Marschall was second on the grid last time out at Misano and simply went one better this afternoon. But there is an unfamiliar look to the grid, with a number of fast cars arguably out of position.
As was the case at the previous two Sprint meetings, qualifying was split into two 10-minute sessions, a concequence of the booming 40-car grid. The first featured the Pro and Gold Cup crews, while the second was for the Silver Cup and Bronze Cup runners.
Luca Engstler was fastest in Q1A, posting a 1m36.094s at the wheel of the #63 Grasser Racing Lamborghini. That looked a tough time to beat, but Marschall did so comfortably in Q1B by producing a 1m35.856s, snatchning P1 in class and overall.
Engstler held on to second spot ahead of Patric Niederhauser (#96 Rutronik Racing Porsche) and Alessio Rovera (#51 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari). The latter was initially classified last – his lap times were deleted for track limits offences – but was reinstated after the session. Jim Pla qualified fifth, by far the best result of the year for the #111 CSA Racing McLaren.
Marcos Siebert was a superb P6 overall in the #52 AF Corse – Francorchamps Motors Ferrari and will start from pole position in the Silver Cup. He beat defneding series champion and 2025 title contender Lucas Auer (#48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG), who will nevertheless be pleased to have beaten his closest rivals.
Gold Cup pole went to the #69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari of Chris Lulham. This was the Swiss squad's sixth class pole from seven races and edges them a little further clear at the top of the standings. The championship-leading #32 Team WRT BMW qualified 11th with Charles Weerts at the wheel, while the #59 Garage 59 McLaren that won at Misano was 19th in the hands of Benjamin Goethe.
On a positive note, Rafael Suzuki delivered his best showing yet by placing P12 overall and second in the Bronze class at the wheel of the #270 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin. The Brazilian missed the previous event at Misano but returned in fine style today.
Tonight's race gets underway at 20:45 CEST and can be watched live on the GT World YouTube channel.
QUICK STATS
- First overall Sprint Cup pole for Kessel Racing
- Second foverall Sprint Cup pole for Dennis Marschall
- Seventh car on pole in seven Sprint Cup races
- Second overall pole for a Bronze Cup car in 2025