The Ford Mustang GT3 scored its maiden GT World Challenge powered by AWS pole at Monza thanks to a sensational performance from the HRT trio of Arjun Maini, Fabio Scherer and Thomas Drouet.
The car had not previously qualified better than 18th, but it was on an entirely different level in this morning's session. The result was set in motion by Maini, who was quickest of all in Q1.
Scherer and Drouet were second fastest in Q2 and Q3 respectively, sealing a commanding ROWE Pole Position Award for the Mustang. The #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry of Juncadella/Lulham/Gounon qualified second, but will start from seventh having received a penalty during free practice.
This means that the #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi will start from P2 after a standout showing from its crew of Dylan Pereira, Andrea Frassineti and Lorenzo Patrese. The Audi also starts from Gold Cup pole, six places clear of its closest rival.
Third overall and Silver Cup pole went to the #65 HRT Ford Racing Mustang, completing a marquee day for the German outfit. Finn Wiebelhaus was fifth overall in Q1 while Eduardo Coseteng was 12th in Q2 and Maxime Oosten finished the job by taking third in Q3. The McLarens of Optimum Motorsport and Team RJN were second and third in class, though they will start 19th and 20th overall.
The RJN McLaren deserves a mention, however, as Ben Dörr set the fastest time of the entire qualifying in Q3. The German's 1m45.323s edged Drouet by more than two tenths of a second.
If the first three cars on today's grid are unfamiliar front-runners, there was a degree of normality in the next three spots with the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche, the #51 AF Corse Ferrari and the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter filling positions four through six.
The penalised Verstappen Racing entry will line up seventh, followed by the #10 Boutsen VDS Porsche (P2 in Gold), the #32 Team WRT BMW and the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, which won last time out at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Winward Racing led the way in the Bronze Cup with Gabriele Piana, Marvin Dienst and Rinat Salikhov doing the business in their Mercedes-AMG. They will start 17th overall, ahead of all but one Silver Cup car. Defending champion Kessel (Ferrari) and last year's Monza winner Rutronik (Porsche) will start second and third in Bronze.
The second round of the 2026 GT World Challenge powered by AWS Endurance Cup takes place this afternoon at Monza, with lights out scheduled for 15:40 CEST. Watch it live wherever you are on the GT World YouTube channel.