Vermeulen, Engel Take Brands Hatch Sprint Cup Poles

Photo: JEP/SRO

Thierry Vermeulen and Maro Engel captured pole position for Sunday’s pair of GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup races at Brands Hatch.

Qualifying for the opening round of the Sprint Cup season was carried out through two back-to-back sessions of ten minutes each, with the first session deciding the grid for Race 1 while the second session was used to determine the starting order for the second contest.

Vermeulen led a Ferrari 1-2 to top the opening session, steering the No. 69 Emil Frey Racing 296 GT3 to a best lap of 1:23.374.

That allowed him to outpace Ferrari factory driver Alessio Rovera by 0.185 seconds, although the Italian seemed on course for pole until the No. 50 Ferrari had its fastest lap deleted for track limits.

Late flyers from Marvin Kirchhoefer and Luca Engstler put the No. 59 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo and No. 63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 third and fourth, respectively.

Arthur Leclerc made it three Ferraris in the top five by grabbing fifth ahead of his Sprint Cup debut, with Lucas Auer sixth aboard the No. 48 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Ben Green and Hugo Cook slotted into seventh and eighth, while Adam Smalley captured Gold Cup pole aboard the No. 58 Garage 59 McLaren as Charles Weerts rounded out the top ten for Team WRT.

Sainteloc Racing took Silver Cup pole with its No. 26 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II driven by Lorens Lecertua in 13th overall.

During the second session, the No. 69 Emil Frey Ferrari came close to completing a qualifying sweep, but was stopped by Engel’s No. 48 Mercedes-AMG.

Engel laid down a benchmark time of 1:23.240, which Sprint Cup newcomer Chris Lulham came close to beating.

However, the Brit fell short by 0.027 seconds but still claimed Gold Cup pole, qualifying second overall.

Lamborghini factory drivers Jordan Pepper and Sandy Mitchell made up the second row in third and fourth as Thomas Neubauer completed the top five for AF Corse.

Cesar Gazeau took pole position in Silver Cup to kickstart his title defense with Boutsen VDS, although the Frenchman will start outside the overall top ten in 16th.

The opening Sprint Cup race of the season kicks off Sunday at 11 a.m. BST (6 a.m. EST).