ADAC GT Masters·10.5.2013

Comments after qualifying: Reaction from the paddock after the qualifying sessions at Spa

Nico Verdonck (#14 Lambda Performance, Ford GT), pole position for Race 1: "The team had a perfect strategy in qualifying today. I went out right at the start of qualifying onto a wet track and then stayed out because I saw that the rain was easing off. That was a smart decision. When the track was dry, my YOKOHAMA tyres had perfect grip, while the other drivers were still trying to get theirs up to operating temperature."

Frank Kechele (#14 Lambda Performance, Ford GT), pole position for Race 2: "Getting pole position was the result of great teamwork. Our engineer sent us out onto the track at just the right time. Spa-Francorchamps is perfect for our Ford GT; there is probably no other track on the calendar that suits it better."

Simon Knap (#12 DB Motorsport, BMW Z4 GT3), second on the grid for Race 1: "I´m very satisfied with my qualifying performance. It was the maximum we were going to get today. I´m just hoping that it doesn´t rain during tomorrow´s race, because that could make things quite difficult for us."

Mario Farnbacher (#6 Farnbacher Racing, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P17 on the grid for Race 2: "So far we´ve been too slow here. We´re puzzled about why that should be the case. At Oschersleben, we were up with the leaders, but all of a sudden, we´re two seconds off the pace. We just don´t know why."

Daniel Keilwitz (#2 Callaway Competition, Corvette Z06.R GT3), P7 on the grid for Race 2: "I´m satisfied with the way the car performed. The thing that bothers me is the deficit on the fastest qualifier today - we were 1.4 seconds slower than the car in pole position. Our Corvette is really good on the first sector, but on Sector 2, we´re losing 1.5 seconds. The probable reason is that our Corvette is lacking in aerodynamics for that part of the circuit."

Philip Geipel (#16 THE BOSS YACO Racing, Audi R8 LMS ultra), P17 on the grid for Race 1: "We gambled a bit in the first session, and unfortunately it didn´t pay off. We thought more rain was on the way and opted for a wet race setup. But then the track dried out very fast and our balance was all wrong."

Peter Kox (#21 Team rhino´s Leipert, Lamborghini Gallardo FL2), P10 on the grid for Race 2: "I´m perfectly content with the car and with my performance today. I don´t think I could have done any better. The car holds the track well, and I was faster on many of the corners than ever before in a Gallardo. But unfortunately, we were two seconds too slow at the end of the day. We´re still having problems with the tyres on the front axle, and we really need to find a solution for this."

Christian Engelhart (#4 Team Geyer & Weinig / Schütz Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), P4 on the grid for Race 1: "P4 is OK, but I got held up several times on my fast laps. Unfortunately, there are some people out there who regularly block the way. If I´d just had one clear run, I might have been in with a chance of pole. But I kept coming up behind other drivers who simply wouldn´t move over."

Christian Hohenadel (#3 Callaway Competition, Corvette Z06.R GT3), P15 on the grid for Race 2: "I´m starting from 15th, which is one place better than at Oschersleben. Basically, the result today wasn´t exactly great, but at least I´m feeling more comfortable with the car than on the first race weekend, which gives me cause for optimism."

Christer Jöns (#28 Prosperia C. Abt Racing, Audi R8 LMS ultra), P10 on the grid for Race 1: "I was the fastest Audi driver out there in the first session, which is something to feel pleased about. I think I could have done better than tenth, but the yellow flags were out on Sector 1 when I was on my flying lap. So I had to come off the gas, and then unfortunately there wasn´t enough time for another attempt."

Lennart Marioneck (#17 Callaway Competition, Corvette Z06.R GT), P19 on the grid for Race 2: "This is my first time here at Spa, and it´s by no means an easy track to learn. But I keep improving my performance and I´m getting on better with the car all the time. On my fastest lap, I made three or four mistakes which cost me six tenths of a second."