FIA GT1, Silverstone - Qualifying Report
Hezemans Takes Pole With The Perfect Lap

After having its times disallowed at the Sachsenring and losing pole position as a result, the Exim Bank Team China Corvette secured pole position for today's Qualifying Race at Silverstone. Mike Hezemans was the quickest driver out on the track in the Qualifying Session.

Championship leaders Hexis AMR did not make it into the final part of qualifying.

In Q1 it was the Nissan GT-R with Richard Westbrook behind the wheel that posted a 1:59.376 early in the session. Even though several other drivers came close, only Tomas Enge managed to beat the Briton's time with eight minutes left on the clock; the Czech being only 0.032 seconds quicker. Michael Krumm ended Q1 in third at 0.040 seconds from Enge.

The Silverstone track clearly did not suit the Ford GT and Lamborghini Murcielago, as both Belgian Racing cars failed to qualify for Q2. The two All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport Lamborghinis were 13th and 14th, just behind the two Marc VDS Racing Team Fords.

Nissan was quick again in Q2, with David Brabham the first driver to go into the 1:39s again; but his lap time was soon improved on by Lucas Luhr. Their fastest lap times were a couple of tenths slower than in Q1. The Nissans remained in the top three for most of the session.

But just 20 seconds before the chequered flag came out, Andreas Zuber went fastest in the Exim Bank Team China Corvette. His lap time of 1:59.334 was two tenths of a second quicker than Luhr. Moments later Maxime Martin moved into third place.

The leaders and runners-up in the Teams and Drivers Championship, Hexis AMR and All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport, did not make it through to Q2 as both teams saw their cars finishing the session outside the top eight. Marc VDS Racing Team’s #40 Ford GT and the DKR

Engineering Corvette also failed to make it into Q3.

In the final session, Tomas Enge was the first to set a fast lap time, the Czech going around the ‘new’ Silverstone track in 1:59.361. But soon afterwards, his time was already off the top of the timing screens as Mike Hezemans was the first driver to get into the 1:58’s by posting a 1:58.967.

Michael Krumm went into second place, almost two tenths behind the Corvette.

With none of the other drivers able to go any quicker Mike Hezemans secured the first pole position for in the FIA GT1 World Championship.

The JR Motorsports Nissan GT-R of Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr will start from second place, with the Young Driver AMR Astons starting from the second row.

"To be honest, I don't know where we found that time," said Hezemans, of the only sub-1:59 of the weekend so far. "It was just a very good lap, without any mistakes. I knew that it had to be the first lap, as the tyres start to drop off on the second lap."

"It was a bit difficult for me in free practice," said Zuber, "as I'd been out of the car for a year. But I've got a good teacher in Mike, and it was a good qualifying session."

"I'm a bit disappointed not to be on pole," admitted Krumm. "I made a few too many mistakes - I pushed too hard and went off line, which cost me a couple of tenths. But I'm, of course, happy to be on the front row. We've a strong car and we should go well."

"Third is a great result for the team," said Enge. "We're happy that the car was in the top four in all three sessions, and it was especially close in the second session - just a few tenths covering the cars, which is quite remarkable on such a long track."

The Qualifying Race was scheduled to begin at 16:15.

MtC