GetSpeed Team PCX Racing delivered a commanding Qualifying performance to secure pole position for the 2026 Michelin 12H Paul Ricard. The Mercedes-AMG squad controlled the grid-determining sessions at Circuit Paul Ricard, as Maro Engel produced a sensational record-breaking lap in Q2.
Engel, Jordan Boisson and Benjamin Paque combined superbly in the No. 28 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. As a result, GetSpeed Team PCX Racing claimed outright and GT3 pole by just over two tenths on aggregate times.
The decisive moment came in Q2, when Engel unleashed a 2m00.652s lap. That effort set a new Qualifying lap record for the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard and gave his team a crucial advantage heading into the final session.
Paque then completed the job in Q3. He delivered a 2m00.900s lap under pressure and secured pole with a team average of 2m01.657s. Afterwards, he praised the collective effort, noting that Boisson performed strongly in Q1, Engel excelled in Q2 and he finished the job in Q3.
Ajith RedAnt Racing completes all-Mercedes-AMG front row
While GetSpeed Team PCX Racing controlled the fight for pole, Ajith RedAnt Racing ensured Mercedes-AMG locked out the front row. Ayrton Redant, Yannick Redant and Kobe de Breucker produced a consistent and impressive Qualifying run in the No. 93 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.
Yannick Redant played a key role in Q2, moving the car into second on aggregate times behind the GetSpeed entry. Then, in Q3, de Breucker delivered a strong 2m01.110s lap to seal second place overall.
The margin behind them remained extremely close. Saintéloc Junior Team secured third with its Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, as Stéphane Tribaudini, Elia Erhart and Pierre Kaffer finished only 0.039s away from the front row.
Consequently, the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard grid now promises a tight opening battle. GetSpeed starts from pole, but Ajith RedAnt Racing and Saintéloc Junior Team remain close enough to apply immediate pressure.
Proton Competition and HOFOR Racing strengthen GT3 fight
Proton Competition qualified fourth overall with its Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO. Constantin Dressler, Manuel Lauck and Joel Sturm kept last year’s race-winning team firmly in contention, although they narrowly missed out on a top-three starting position.
Meanwhile, HOFOR Racing claimed GT3 AM pole with Alexander Prinz, Torsten Kratz and Maximilian Partl in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO. The team delivered a composed performance across the three sessions and secured an important class advantage before the race.
The GT3 field therefore starts with several major contenders spread across the leading rows. GetSpeed Team PCX Racing has the clearest advantage, but the combination of Mercedes-AMG, Audi and Porsche machinery behind them should keep the fight open once the race begins.
GT3 Qualifying produces record pace and late drama
The GT3 Qualifying battle started at a rapid pace. Dressler immediately placed Proton Competition at the top with a 2m02.579s lap in Q1, while Dominic Ang impressed for Viper Niza Racing and Oliver Campos showed strong speed in the E2P Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO.
However, Tribaudini soon raised the standard for Saintéloc Junior Team. He moved into second with a 2m02.757s before improving to a 2m02.369s, which pushed the Audi ahead of Proton Competition.
Q2 then transformed the fight. Lauck initially set the pace for Proton with a 2m02.654s, but the times quickly dropped into the 2m01s. Yannick Redant impressed for Ajith RedAnt Racing, while Engel and Jake Hill also moved into the battle.
Nevertheless, Engel delivered the defining lap of the day. His 2m00.652s effort smashed the previous Michelin 12H Paul Ricard Qualifying benchmark and placed GetSpeed Team PCX Racing in control.
In Q3, Paque protected that advantage with a decisive run. De Breucker secured second for Ajith RedAnt Racing, while Kaffer’s 2m01.139s placed Saintéloc third ahead of Proton Competition.
Red Camel-Jordans.nl claims 992 pole after fierce Porsche fight
Red Camel-Jordans.nl secured 992 pole after a competitive battle across all three sessions. Fabian Danz, Luc Breukers and Rik Breukers combined to put the No. 909 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on top of the class.
Mühlner Motorsport started strongly in Q1 as Conrad Tox Leveau produced an impressive 2m07.597s. However, Danz kept Red Camel-Jordans.nl close and ensured the team remained within reach.
Then, in Q2, Luc Breukers moved the No. 909 Porsche onto provisional pole. His 2m06.189s lap placed Red Camel ahead of Mühlner Motorsport by a narrow margin on aggregate times.
Mühlner responded in Q3 through Martin Rump, who briefly moved the No. 921 car back onto provisional pole. However, Rik Breukers entered later in the session and delivered a 2m05.614s lap to return Red Camel-Jordans.nl to the top.
HRT Performance takes 992 AM pole with superb Kellett lap
HRT Performance claimed 992 AM pole with the No. 928 Porsche, thanks to a standout performance from James Kellett. Jonathan Kearney and Steven Gambrell had already placed the car in a strong position before Kellett produced one of the most impressive laps in the class.
Kellett immediately posted a 2m05.413s in Q3, which lifted HRT Performance to second overall in 992 and onto provisional 992 AM pole. He then improved to a 2m05.259s, securing the class pole and third overall in the category.
Although Red Camel-Jordans.nl ultimately secured overall 992 pole, Kellett’s pace underlined HRT Performance’s strength. The team now starts as a major contender in the 992 AM fight.
Vortex, Circuit Toys and Not Only Motorsport secure class poles
In GTX, Vortex claimed pole with Julian Boillot, Alexandre De Bernardinis and Philippe Bonnel. With a single GTX entry this weekend, the class result remained straightforward, although Bonnel still delivered the quickest lap among the trio with a 2m09.644s in Q3.
Circuit Toys secured GT4 pole with its Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2. Johan de Rouw, Norbert Dekker and Olivier Huez qualified the car, while de Rouw produced the team’s quickest lap with a 2m16.427s in Q1.
Meanwhile, Not Only Motorsport dominated TCE-TCX with its Ligier JS2 R. Filippo Tornaghi and Gino Rocchio proved closely matched throughout Qualifying, with little more than a tenth separating them. Their consistent pace gave the team a comfortable class pole.
asBest Racing will start second in TCE-TCX with its SEAT Leon Cup Racer, driven by Rafal Gieras, Steven Teirlinck and Pia Ohlsson.
Anticipation builds for Michelin 12H Paul Ricard
With Qualifying complete, attention now turns to the race. The opening six hours of the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard will begin at 11:45 local time on Saturday, 6 June. Following an overnight break, the final six hours will start at 11:30 local time on Sunday, 7 June.
GetSpeed Team PCX Racing starts from the best possible position after a faultless Qualifying effort. However, Ajith RedAnt Racing, Saintéloc Junior Team, Proton Competition and HOFOR Racing all have strong platforms from which to challenge.
The race should also deliver intense battles in 992, 992 AM, GTX, GT4 and TCE-TCX. After record pace, tight margins and several standout laps in Qualifying, the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard is set for a fiercely contested third round of the 2026 Michelin 24H Series European Series.
