After topping the practice session, Coach McKansy (#17 HP Racing International Lamborghini Huracan GT3) continued his impressive form at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to take his maiden Blancpain GT Sports Club pole position.
In the Iron Cup, Stephen Earle (#111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) produced a stunning early lap to go quickest, but championship rival Klaus Dieter Frers (#3 Artega Rennsport Ferrari 488 GT3) improved throughout the session and will start right behind him on the Qualifying Race grid.
The temperatures continued to rise in Barcelona, but Karim Ojjeh (#2 Boutsen Ginion BMW M6 GT3) appeared unfazed as he shot to the top of the timings. Stephen Earle proved he wasn’t going to give up on the Iron Cup title, with his 1:49.633 good enough for second early on.
Coach McKansy then nipped ahead of the 2018 champion and with track conditions no longer at their best, the German was unchallenged and scored his first pole position in the series.
Karim Ojjeh was closest, with his 1:48.649 just 0.067 seconds down on the fastest time. Edward Lewis Brauner (#991 Herberth Motorsport) confirmed the Porsche 991 GT3 R’s pace by getting within 0.006 seconds of a front-row start after a late charge.
Behind him, AF Corse’s Patrick Van Glabeke continued his 2018 record of never qualifying off the second row, by going fourth fastest in the #488 Ferrari 488 GT3.
Row three will be occupied by Jürgen Häring (#66 Porsche 991 GT3 R), ensuring that Herberth Motorsport had two cars in the top five, and Luigi Lucchini (#7 BMS Scuderia Italia SRL Ferrari 458 GT3), who will look to extend his 100 per cent podium record in 2018 from sixth.
Then comes Stephen Earle, who could not improve on his early lap but still managed seventh, with Angélique Detavernier (#55 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3) separating the American from Iron Cup leader Klaus Dieter Frers, who will go from ninth.
Debutant Vadim Kogay (#333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) completes the top 10 following a strong showing in both practice and qualifying.
Next is the Qualifying Race, which will get underway at 15:30 and that will be livestreamed on YouTube, as well as our website and Facebook page.
