FIA GT, Brno - Qualifying Report
Jetalliance Back With A Vengeance

Karl Wendlinger set his seventh pole position of his GT career in Brno. The Austrian in the Jetalliance Aston was quicker than Mike Hezemans in the Phoenix Corvette and the surprise of the day, Anthony Kumpen in the PK Carsport Saleen.

In a session where everybody set his fast lap in a first free run, Wendlinger grabbed pole after the disastrous round for the team in Bucharest. As Mike Hezemans explained after the session, “Brno is a track were your first lap has to be your quickest, otherwise your first lap was rubbish.”

Aston Martin seemed to be at home in Brno, because after the pole and victory in GT3, Wendlinger added another success by being fastest in qualifying.

“This track suits us and it’s a relief after Bucharest”, said Wendlinger after the session.

The third man on the press conference was certainly an unexpected guest. Anthony Kumpen was a delighted man: “This is fantastic for the team and Pirelli. We had such a difficult season so far and the Saleen wasn’t a very good choice, but with hard work and good support of our partners, we manage to get at front at last.”

SRT driver Bouchut came home in fourth, with Peter in the Gigawave Aston in fifth. Bartels in his championship leading Vitaphone Maserati MC12 was only tenth.

In GT2 Dirk Müller replaced Rob Bell in a fantastic way by putting the CR Scuderia Ferrari on pole. Briton Westbrook was second in the Belgian ProSpeed Porsche – with his teammate Mikael Forsten in a fine sixth also – and third went to Gianmaria Bruni in the AF Corse Ferrari.

© Joost Custers