Buus Puts Bronze Porsche on Pole for Zandvoort Race 1

Photo: JEP/SRO

Lionspeed GP driver Bastian Buus put the Bronze Cup-entered No. 89 Porsche 911 GT3 R on pole position for GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup Race 1 at Zandvoort.

Qualifying on the Dutch circuit took part in a two-part segment to allow the 41-car field sufficient space to set a lap, with the Pro and Gold Cup cars going out first followed by the teams in Silver Cup and Bronze Cup.

During that second segment, Buus steered the No. 89 Porsche 911 GT3 R to a best lap of 1:32.812 to go fastest outright in the car he shares with Canadian driver Bashar Mardini.

He narrowly outpaced the 1:33.033 that Gilles Magnus set in the No. 25 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II during the first session, with the Belgian set to start from second overall.

It marks Lionspeed’s first pole position in GTWC Europe, coming on the weekend it makes its Sprint Cup debut with an expanded two-car effort.

Buus and Magnus also captured pole position in Bronze and Silver Cup, respectively.

Patric Niederhauser was the fastest Pro runner in the No. 96 Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in third overall, followed by the No. 66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II of Dylan Pereira.

Alessio Rovera rounded out the overall top five aboard the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3, followed by the No. 63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 of Luca Engstler.

Lucas Auer qualified seventh overall after an off-track moment in the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, running through the gravel at Turn 11.

Ricardo Feller put the second Lionspeed Porsche eighth on the overall grid and third and Bronze Cup, while Marvin Kirchhoefer and Jim Pla completed the top ten for Garage 59 and CSA Racing, respectively.

Silver Cup pole went to the No. 99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi of Alex Aka in 22nd overall.

The opening Sprint Cup race weekend kicks off this afternoon at 3 p.m. CEST (9 a.m. EST).

RESULTS: Qualifying (combined)