GT World Challenge: Porsche Leads Valencia Pre-Qualifying

Pure Rxcing’s No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R set the fastest time in Pre-Qualifying ahead of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup round at Valencia.

Turkish driver Ayhancan Guven reeled off a best lap of 1:30.795 aboard the Bronze Cup-entered machine, which he shares with Alex Malykhin.

Guven improved significantly upon Raffaele Marciello’s 1:31.659 set during Free Practice to set the fastest time across Friday running at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Marciello, piloting the No. 88 Akkodis ASP Team Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, ended the Pre-Qualifying session in second place with a deficit of 0.122 seconds to the No. 911 Porsche.

The No. 111 JP Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo in the hands of Dean MacDonald rounded out the top three, which was covered by just 0.209 seconds.

Andrea Caldarelli slotted into fourth in the No. 60 Vincenzo Sospiri Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 by posting a 1:31.047.

It marked a significant improvement for Caldarelli and co-driver Marco Mapelli compared to Free Practice, in which they were ranked 38th after completing just three laps.

Thierry Vermeulen completed the top five aboard the No. 69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, ahead of the No. 40 Tresor Orange 1 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

The No. 77 Haupt Racing Team Mercedes came seventh and led Silver Cup courtesy of Jordan Love, just ahead of Dinamic GT’s No. 55 Porsche in the hands of Christopher Zoechling.

The top ten was rounded out by the No. 12 Comtoyou Racing Audi of Frederic Vervisch in ninth and the tenth-placed No. 54 Dinamic Porsche driven by Christian Engelhart.

Niklas Kruetten led Gold Cup in the No. 30 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 in 21st overall.

Kruetten’s stablemate Thomas Neubauer brought the session to a premature end aboard the No. 31 BMW when he lost a wheel at Turn 9 in the closing minutes, triggering a red flag.

It marked the second stoppage after a Turn 1 spin for Sean Hudspeth resulted in the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari becoming stuck in the gravel.