Peter Guelinckx clinched the second Fanatec GT2 European Series pole position of his 2023 campaign in the first qualifying session at Portimão this afternoon.
The #1 PK Carsport Audi driver proved untouchable around the circuit where he first took part in a trackday prior to launching his amateur racing career just three years ago, with a best time of 1:45.300 set during the second half of 20-minute session.
It'll be an all-Audi front row for race one this afternoon, after a storming charge from Henry Hassid in the closing moments. The Frenchman timed his run to perfection to push the #67 LP Racing Audi up the order, initially managing to overhaul RTR Project’s Jan Krabec for P2 before cutting Guelinckx’s staggering 0.9s advantage down to 0.3s at the chequered flag.
Thanks to his strong form in the #89 KTM early on in the session, current Am class championship leader Krabec retained that class pole position while clocking in an impressive third overall. It was an extremely close fight for that third spot, however, with only 0.4s covering fourth to sixth behind him.
Double Am class pole-setter last time out in Dijon, Leonardo Gorini pushed his #911 Porsche to produce a best lap time just 0.183s adrift from Krabec. But the Ebimotors entry had to stave off stiff competition from Klaus Angerhofer and the #16 True Racing entry, which finished the session a mere 0.079s off Gorini’s top time.
Also embroiled in that battle, Pro-Am championship leader Nicolas Saelens finished the session with a time just 0.1s shy of Angerhofer’s KTM to complete the top six.
The first 50-minute Fanatec GT2 European Series race of the weekend is scheduled for 16:40 this afternoon, streamed live via GT World of YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/1iJVM3764E4