The second qualifying session in the Prototype Cup Germany at the Sachsenring produced what has become a familiar story this weekend: Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport), who could still mathematically be crowned champion in the 2024 Prototype Cup Germany, came out on top again. Behind him were championship leader Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim, Gebhardt Motorsport), who shares a Duqueine with Markus Pommer (33/Untereisesheim), and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (16/ITA, BWT Mücke Motorsport, who lines up in another Duqueine alongside Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE). This latest result means Mühlner driver Al Azhari has been fastest in the test, the two free practice sessions, and both qualifyings at the Sachsenring. Only in the opening race did he have to settle for second place in his Duqueine.
“The second qualifying was really good. I was behind Valentino Catalano on my flying lap and was faster than him. I knew then that it was a good time, even though the track was slower today than it was yesterday. I am now looking forward to the final race of the season and hope to make one mistake fewer than yesterday. That one error braking in turn one cost me the win yesterday.”
Catalano, who was second fastest in qualifying, was also happy with his result. “The front row of the grid is always good. The car was really super too, which you could see from my fastest time in sector three on my final flying lap. Looking at the title race, it was particularly important for us to be in front of our closest rivals Mücke and ahead of Konrad – and that is the case.”
Pommer and Catalano’s biggest rivals in the title race are Konrad Motorsport. They trail the leaders by four points ahead of the final race and, with Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach) at the wheel of the Ligier, qualified fifth behind the best-placed Ligier driver Felipe Laser (36/Leipzig, Frikadelli Racing Team) and ahead of the only Ginetta of Michael Lyons (33/GBR, Momo Gebhardt Racing) and Ligier racer Antti Rammo (41/EST, MRS GT-Racing). “That could have been better. However, we had an issue with the pit stop timer in yesterday’s race, which meant we had to check something in the first few minutes of qualifying – that was also very important. As such, I ran out of time towards the end of the session. I think fourth place would definitely have been possible, then I could have started from the better side of the grid.”
With one race remaining before the end of the season, the Konrad duo of Kratz and Danny Soufi (21/USA) currently lies four points behind Pommer and Catalano, who regained the championship lead yesterday. This means that both duos have their fates in their own hands and will be crowned champion of the Prototype Cup Germany if they win this afternoon’s race, regardless of what the other drivers do. Mücke drivers Apothéloz and Cirelli are also still in the title race. However, they must finish no lower than second and hope that Pommer / Catalano finish outside the points and Soufi / Kratz fail to complete the race. Al Azhari also has a chance, mathematically: he must win and hope that championship leaders Pommer / Catalano fail to score, as well as needing other results to go his way.
