Prospeed Porsche and Matech GT Racing Ford GT claim pole positions

The two 20-minute qualifying sessions at Silverstone produced very mixed grids – six different makes in the top six positions in both sessions. Making the most of the cold, windy but dry conditions Mikael Forsten claimed the pole for Race 1 in the No.36 Prospeed Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S, while Thomas Mutsch took pole in the second session in the No.20 Matech GT Racing Ford GT.

 

FIRST QUALIFYING – POLE FOR PORSCHE

This is the first time the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S has raced, but that didn’t hamper Mikael Forsten. Saving his best until last, he lapped the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit in 1:52.844 just before the chequered flag was shown to claim pole position for the first race of the season. He just pipped the No.33 APEX Motorsport Jaguar XKR of Phil Quaife, who had held provisional pole for the previous five minutes; the No.5 Kessel Racing Ferrari F430 GT of Nicki Cadei took third.

 

“It was a difficult session, because there were a lot of yellow flags, and there was a lot of traffic,” said Forsten. “Even though I had some traffic near the end of the lap, I was still pretty lucky – no complaints. The car felt good, and we got pole, so that’s ideal.”

 

SECOND QUALIFYING – MUTSCH PUTS FORD GT ON POLE

Conditions hadn’t obviously improved, but lap times in the second session were much quicker – to the point where the pole time in the first session would have been good enough for only thirteenth in the second session. Thomas Mutsch made the most of the session to claim pole in the No.20 Matech GT Racing Ford GT with a 1:50.237. The Silverstone circuit obviously suits the Ford GT – a year earlier it had taken pole at its very first race. Fred Makowiecki, in the No.10 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9, came closest to the time Mutsch had set – but even he couldn’t get within half a second. The No.1 Martini Callaway Corvette Z.06R GT3 of James Ruffier was third.

 

“After qualifying like that, everything is fine,” said Mutsch. “I got a clear lap, which doesn’t happen very often with so many cars on track – the car is nearly perfect.”

2008-04-19
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