Sainteloc Audi on top again in Circuit Paul Ricard pre-qualifying

Sainteloc Audi on top again in Circuit Paul Ricard pre-qualifying

Sainteloc Racing continued to show strong form at Circuit Paul Ricard by topping pre-qualifying with its #25 Audi. 

Having led the way in this morning's free practice the French squad repeated the trick in pre-quali thanks to Christopher Haase, who posted a 1m53.969s to emerge quickest from a field of 40 cars. Second spot went to the #72 SMP Racing Ferrari, driven by series debutant Antonio Fuoco. The young Italian was 0.309s shy of the experienced Haase.

Belgian Audi Club Team WRT remains in contention for a host of titles this weekend and began to show its pace in pre-qualifying as Mirko Bortolotti was third in the #31 car, one place ahead of Dries Vanthoor in the sister #32 machine. Another of WRT's entries led the Silver Cup standings after Rik Breukers put the #33 Audi seventh overall, 0.011s quicker than the rival #15 Tech1 Lexus.

A late lap from Tom Onslow-Cole ensured that RAM Racing topped the Pro-Am class. The #74 Mercedes-AMG was 19th overall, four places clear of Garage 59's #188 Aston Martin. The Am Cup battle was shaded by French squad CMR. Stephane Tribaudini once again set the #108 Bentley's best lap, beating the rival #26 Sainteloc Audi by 0.207s. 

In contrast to this morning's session, pre-qualifying was a quiet affair. There were no stoppages, though two brief full-course yellow periods were required to remove debris from the circuit.

This evening's qualifying session gets underway at 17.20 and will set the grid for tomorrow's season-ending race, which is scheduled to go green at 11.45 CET on Sunday. All of the action will be streamed live on the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS website and Facebook page, as well as the GT World YouTube channel.