Qualifying thriller on the Hungaroring: Lukas starts from pole
The qualifying for the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on the Hungaroring in Hungary was not for the faint-hearted. In the final minutes there was a volley of top times, and just seconds before the end of the session Robert Lukas (PL/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport) achieved his fastest lap. The 28-year-old seasoned professional takes up Sunday’s race from pole position. Lining up next to him on second is Porsche junior Sven Müller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team), with the Porsche junior, Matteo Cairoli (I/Fach Auto Tech), taking up the race from the third grid spot. “With more rubber on the track, the times became increasingly faster. You had to keep your cool to the very end and I was the most successful in this,” said Robert Lukas.
In sunny conditions and temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius the drivers went out on the 4.381-kilometre racetrack around midday. In the 30-minute qualifying session, Lukas managed to turn a top time on his first set of tyres. After about 13 minutes, the majority of drivers pulled into the pits for new tyres and waited to see what the others would do. With about six minutes to go, the top pilots made their move and benefited from the improving grip conditions. Best times were overridden at one-second intervals with the time sheets constantly being reshuffled. “I won here last year, now I’m starting from second. I’m good at starts and so I’m feeling optimistic for the race,” said Müller, who won the races Spielberg und Silverstone and currently ranks second overall in the championship.
Porsche junior Cairoli was not particularly pleased with his qualifying outcome. “After turning a good lap on the first set of tyres we tweaked the set-up slightly. Unfortunately that didn’t quite work as we’d hoped. Now I have to see what I can do in the race. Overtaking on this track is difficult,” said the winner of the season-opening round in Barcelona as well as Monaco. Standing on the fourth grid spot next to Cairoli is Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team). The Swiss Jeffrey Schmidt (Lechner Racing Middle East) takes up the race from fifth. His compatriot Philipp Frommenwiler managed to secure his best qualifying result so far this season with position six.
Just as the 25 contenders drove their 460 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers into the paddock, the skies turned dark over the circuit and several minutes later there was a cloudburst. Something was also brewing with Porsche junior Mathieu Jaminet (F/Martinet by Almeras). Initially his name had been at the very top of the time sheets, but at the subsequent technical check his vehicle was found to be non-compliant with the regulations and he was excluded from the qualifying. Jaminet will take up the race from the very back of the field.
Race five of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place on Sunday at 11.35 hrs (CEST). Sky Deutschland and Eurosport 1 broadcast the Budapest race live.
Qualifying Budapest
1. Robert Lukas (PL/Förch Racing by Lukas Motorsport), 1:47.786 minutes
2. Sven Müller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team), 1:47.907 minutes
3. Matteo Cairoli (I/Fach Auto Tech), 1:47.929 minutes
4. Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner MSG Racing Team), 1:48.037 minutes
5. Jeffrey Schmidt (CH/Lechner Racing Middle East), 1:48.314 minutes
6. Philipp Frommenwiler (CH/Fach Auto Tech), 1:48.436 minutes
7. Steven Palette (FRA/Martinet by Almeras), 1:48.467 minutes
8. Dennis Olsen (N/MRS GT-Racing), 1:48.487 minutes
