Maxime Oosten (NL), at the wheel of a BMW M4 GT3 for FK Performance, set the fastest time of 1:22.067 in the first qualifying session of the new ADAC GT Masters season at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. “I am super happy to secure my first pole in a GT3 car in the ADAC GT Masters. I went out a little later than the others and immediately posted a fast time. It is a fantastic feeling, and one we want to take into the race,” said the overjoyed pole-sitter. Thanks to his flying lap, Oosten and his team-mate Leon Köhler (Erlenbach am Main) will start the first race of the championship from the very front of the grid.
Grasser drivers Benjamin Hites (CHL) and Tim Zimmermann (Langenargen) were just 0.125 seconds slower in second place. Sharing the second row of the grid will be the two Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Elias Seppänen (FIN) and Tom Kalender (Hamm/Sieg) from Landgraf Motorsport, and Jannes Fittje (Langenhain) and Finn Wiebelhaus (Obertshausen) from Haupt Racing Team. Rounding out the top five were Eduardo Coseteng (RP) and Grégory de Sybourg (CH) in the second FK Performance BMW.
The weekend’s opening qualifying began on time at 09:15 under blue skies and with a track temperature of nine degrees Celsius. With lap times dropping consistently, Oosten put his BMW on course for success around the midway point of the session. Shortly thereafter, Land Motorsport driver Sandro Holzem (Polch) suffered a crash in his Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2, which resulted in qualifying being suspended temporarily. When the session resumed, nobody was able to match the time set by the flying Dutchman.
The ADAC GT Masters drivers will contest the first race of the season at the 3.667-kilometre circuit in the Magdeburg Börde region from 15:15. TV partner SPORT1 is showing the race live on free-to-air TV with presenter Anna Dollak and commentator Peter Kohl. The 60-minute sprint will also be streamed live and free of charge at youtube.com/@ADACMotorsports.
