A heavy shower of rain just a few minutes before the start ensured that conditions were very wet at the Circuit Zandvoort for Q1 - ideal weather, though, for Bortolotti, an acknowledged specialist in the rain. To begin with, the Italian allowed other drivers to make the running before going to the top of the standings with a time of 1:46.750 minutes after a quarter of an hour or so of the 30-minute session. Orange 1 by GRT Grasser's driver improved yet again in the closing stages of Q1 to post a 1.46.632 minutes and as a result, secured a second pole position of the season for himself and partner Christian Engelhart after their success at Oschersleben.

"Amazing, I'm very happy," said a delighted Bortolotti. "Zandvoort is an awesome track and it's great to be back on top after securing pole in 2017 and second on the grid last year. Many thanks to the whole team! Unfortunately, so far this season, we've not always managed to secure the results that we deserved, which is why we're hoping for a terrific finish today."

Championship leaders Patric Niederhauser and Kelvin van der Linde qualified second on the grid with a deficit of a mere 72 thousandths of a second. However, the two of them will have to serve a three-position grid penalty, as van der Linde drove too fast in the pit lane during Friday's second free practice session After posting strong times on Friday, Timo Bernhard showed in Q1 that he and team-mate, Klaus Bachler, are also a force to be reckoned with at Zandvoort. The former sports car world champion qualified the Porsche 911 GT3 R fielded by Küs Team75 Bernhard in third place.

P4 went to Michele Beretta and Marco Mapelli in another Lamborghini from Orange1 by GRT Grasser. Rolf Ineichen rounded off a strong team performance by the Austrian outfit with P9 which is his best qualifying result to date in the ADAC GT Masters. Max Hofer and Christopher Mies came home fifth in their Montaplast by Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS.

Saturday's ADAC GT Masters race starts at 2.45 pm.