The Prototype Cup Germany drivers assembled as early as 08:05 on Sunday for the second qualifying in a gloriously sunny Zandvoort. Xavier Lloveras (23/ESP, van ommen racing by DataLab) appeared to have had the best night sleep, as he came out firing and produced the fastest lap of the session. His time of 1:30.713 minutes was 0.346 seconds faster than the best lap of Valentino Catalano (17/Westheim, DKR Engineering), which earned the DKR driver second place on the grid for today’s race. Third place went to Julien Apothéloz (22/CHE, van ommen racing by DataLab), with Gary Hauser (31/LUX, Racing Experience) and Elia Sperandio (17/CHE, BHK Motorsport) taking fourth and fifth.
It was clear from the start of the 15-minute qualifying session that anyone who wanted pole position would have to beat him. The Spaniard took an early lead and then tightened his grip on top spot with more fast laps. “I went out at the start of the session, overtook a car and then had a clear track. I was able to use that and put my foot down. On the whole, I am very happy with qualifying, although I did make one little mistake.”
Valentino Catalano ended the session in second place, ahead of Julien Apothéloz in third. “It did not go perfectly, but it was okay. My car had more understeer than yesterday, which was something I had to adapt to. Third place on the grid is a good starting position for the race. There is still everything to play for,” said Switzerland’s Apothéloz, who never got to do any driving in the opening race, as his team-mate Oscar Tunjo (27/COL, van ommen racing by DataLab) crashed out.
Yesterday’s race did not go perfectly for Gary Hauser and his team-mate Markus Pommer (32/Untereisesheim) either, but he has set the pair up for a more successful race two. The driver from Luxembourg was just 0.088 seconds slower than Apothéloz and will start from fourth place later today. Completing the top five was Elia Sperandio. “I made a few little mistakes on my laps, so I think I could have been quite a bit faster. However, fifth place is okay.” The 17-year-old Swiss shares his Ligier with Alex Cascatau (30/ROU) for the first time in Zandvoort. “I know him and have actually already driven one race together with him. Despite that, a new team-mate obviously always means a bit of an adjustment.”