The eighth and final pole position of the Prototype Cup Germany, in the inaugural season of the LMP3 series, goes to Duqueine driver Leonard Weiss, who was 0.019 seconds faster than Ginetta man Maximilian Hackländer in second place. Marvin Dienst, who leads the championship together with team-mate Berkay Besler, landed his Ligier in fourth place on the grid at the 4.574-kilometre Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, behind the Duqueine of Gary Hauser.
The second qualifying session was suspended after a little over two minutes, following an incident involving Martin Berry (45/AUS, Rinaldi Racing). After the restart, Gary Hauser (30/LUX, Racing Experience) hit the top of the timing sheet. However, he was knocked off top spot shortly after by Leonard Weiss (24/Monschau, WTM Racing). The winner of yesterday’s race held onto first place until the end of the session. “I didn’t think that my first flying lap was so good, as the tyres were not yet at the ideal working temperature. Some of the following laps were scratched, as I was too far off the track limits in turn one. But I had done enough by that point,” said the delighted WTM driver.
Maximilian Hackländer (32/Rüthen, Konrad Motorsport) only just missed out on pole. The team-mate of Axcil Jefferies (28/ZWE, Konrad Motorsport), who currently lies second in the overall standings, qualified second, just 0.019 seconds behind Weiss. Gary Hauser rewarded his team for their night shift with third place. The Luxembourg-based team had worked through the night, because the Racing Experience Duqueine was badly damaged on the right side following a crash in yesterday’s race. “The mechanics worked through to 05:50,” said Hauser, full of praise for his team. “I am particularly pleased for them. However, we could have done even better than third place, as I was held up by a slower rival on my fastest lap, when I had set the absolute best time in sector one.”
Marvin Dienst (25/Lampertheim, Toksport WRT) was fourth, Rory Penttinen (42/FIN, MRS GT-Racing) ended the second qualifying session in fifth place. His Finnish compatriots at Kemppi Motorsport and their two drivers Sebastian Arenram (39/SWE) and Jesse Salmenautio (21/FIN) were missing from qualifying due to an engine issue; they will also miss the race.
