Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE, BWT Mücke Motorsport) set the early pace in the second qualifying session of the Prototype Cup Germany at the Lausitzring, clocking the fastest time for one sector after another. However, the Swiss driver’s rivals then hit back. Roughly halfway through the 15-minute session, Danny Soufi (20/USA, Konrad Motorsport) moved to the top of the timings sheet. Soufi and Apothéloz then produced an exciting battle for pole position, with the Mücke driver eventually coming out on top. Soufi was second, while Felipe Laser (34/Leipzig, Frikadelli Racing Team) ended qualifying in third place.
“Qualifying was really good, particularly because everything came together again towards the end of the session. I am particularly pleased to have claimed the first pole position in my first qualifying for Mücke. Together with the third place, which my team-mate Riccardo Leone Cirelli secured in the first qualifying session, we are very well placed for both of the first two races. It is now all about converting those good positions, as good results in qualifying do not earn you any points,” said Apothéloz. The rain did not bother the Swiss. “We did a lot of testing in the rain at Spa-Francorchamps, and I really enjoy driving these LMP3 cars in the wet. The Michelin tyres are really good in the rain too.”
Danny Soufi was also far from unhappy with his second place. He and team-mate Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach) will start race two from second place on the grid. “You had to get used to the wet track at first, but then it was great fun. However, we had slight problems with the car towards the end. I enjoyed the wet conditions in the second qualifying. I have always liked the rain. As a kid in Texas, I used to use every rare drop of rain to practice.” Third-placed Felipe Laser, who shares a Ligier with Klaus Abbelen (63/Barweiler, Frikadelli Racing Team), must go back a long way for his last outing at the Lausitzring. “I drove here 13 years ago, then never again until this weekend. I am satisfied with third place.”
Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport) and Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim, Gebhardt Motorsport) followed in fourth and fifth place, and will start the second race of the weekend from those positions on the grid.
