Jules Gounon secured pole position for the opening GT World Challenge (GTWC) Europe Sprint Cup race at Magny-Cours after setting the benchmark during Qualifying 1.
The Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing driver recorded a 1:36.023 in the first half of the split qualifying session. Kiern Jewiss came closest to beating him during Q1B but finished 0.166 seconds behind, completing an all-Mercedes-AMG front row.
Gounon controls the opening group
The 44-car field competed across two separate groups, with Gounon taking to the circuit during Q1A. Gounon quickly placed the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO at the top of the order and improved to a 1:36.023 on his third lap. He ended the first part of qualifying almost four tenths of a second clear of his nearest rival, leaving the Q1B drivers with a significant target.
The Frenchman’s time ultimately remained unbeaten, earning him his second consecutive pole position after also topping Qualifying 1 at Misano.
Jewiss challenges during Q1B
Jewiss emerged as Gounon’s closest challenger when the second group began its qualifying runs. The #222 2Seas Motorsport driver produced a 1:36.189 on his third lap, reducing Gounon’s advantage to 0.166 seconds. Although Jewiss could not take overall pole, he secured second place and claimed the top position in the Bronze Cup. His result also ensured that Mercedes-AMG locked out the front row for the opening race at Magny-Cours.
Max Hesse placed the #46 Team WRT BMW third with a 1:36.411. He finished 0.388 seconds behind Gounon and continued the team’s strong qualifying form. Lucas Auer followed in fourth for Winward Racing, just 0.022 seconds behind Hesse, while Fabian Schiller placed the #12 GetSpeed Team Dubai Mercedes-AMG fifth. Schiller’s result gave Mercedes-AMG four positions inside the top five and earned him second place among the Bronze Cup competitors.
Comtoyou Racing places both cars inside the top seven
Kobe Pauwels led Comtoyou Racing’s qualifying 1 performance in Magny-Cours for the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup weekend by taking sixth in the #7 Aston Martin. The Belgian driver set a 1:36.470 and finished 0.447 seconds away from pole. Oliver Söderström followed his team-mate in seventh and secured Silver Cup pole with the #21 Aston Martin. Marvin Dienst missed out on seventh by only one thousandth of a second and placed the #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG eighth.
Thomas Neubauer took ninth for AF Corse in the leading Ferrari, while Matisse Lismont completed the overall top 10 and finished second in the Silver Cup classification for Team WRT.
Gilles Magnus delivered the fastest Gold Cup time for Boutsen VDS. He qualified the #10 Porsche 12th overall with a 1:36.772, making him the highest-placed Porsche driver in the session. Magnus finished behind David Marschall’s Bronze Cup Kessel Racing Ferrari and ahead of the Garage 59 McLaren driven by Dean MacDonald.
Weerts and Buus face difficult starting positions
Championship leader Charles Weerts endured a challenging session in the #32 Team WRT BMW. A heavy strike against the kerbs disrupted his final run, leaving him 17th overall and 0.884 seconds behind Gounon. Bastian Buus also struggled to match the leaders in the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche. The Danish driver qualified 21st after setting a 1:37.040, more than one second slower than the pole time.
Amaury Cordeel failed to record a classified lap in the #31 Team WRT BMW, leaving the car without a position in the provisional Qualifying 1 results. Gounon will therefore lead Jewiss, Hesse and Auer away from the front two rows when the opening GTWC Europe Sprint Cup race begins at Magny-Cours.
GTWC Europe Magny-Cours Qualifying 1 full result
