The second-best Audi driver in the field was last year’s winner Laurens Vanthoor. In sixth place, he was short by 0.282 seconds of his team-mate Frank Stippler’s result. The two Audi R8 LMS cars of Audi Sport Team Phoenix participated in the Superpole shootout as well. Nicki Thiim (DK) in the number ‘5’ car was not happy with the balance of his race car and achieved grid position 12. André Lotterer (D) in car number ‘6’ did not find a clear lap and had to settle for 14th place.
In addition, six of the previous generation Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are competing in the Spa 24 Hours. Robin Frijns was the best driver of one of these. The Dutchman achieved position 24 in car number ‘3’ for the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT. In the number ‘35’ Audi of Saintéloc, Edward Sandström (S) took position 28. Frédéric Vervisch (B) in the number ‘75’ ISR Audi, following the night qualifying session, was in 32nd place with his lap time of 2m 19.857s. Pieter Schothorst (NL) trailed him in the number ‘4’ Audi of Team WRT in 36th place. At the same time, the Dutchman achieved 16th place in the Pro-Am category, trailed in 45th position by Team Parker Racing in car number ’24.’ Callum Macleod (GB) completed a lap on the circuit in 2m 20.921s, which made him the second-best driver in the Am category. Eleventh place in this class went to the Saintéloc Audi number ‘36’ driven by Philippe Haezebrouck (F).
The race will start on Saturday at 16.30. The organizer offers live streaming on www.24hoursofspa.com/live. Eurosport will start its TV coverage at 18.00.
Qualifying results
1 Frank Stippler (Audi R8 LMS #2) 2m 18.130s
2 Kevin Estre (McLaren #58) 2m 18.147s
3 Andrea Piccini (Ferrari #11) 2m 18.176s
4 Alvaro Parente (McLaren #59) 2m 18.254s
5 Maxime Soulet (Bentley #8) 2m 18.350s
6 Laurens Vanthoor (Audi R8 LMS #1) 2m 18.412s
7 Bernd Schneider (Mercedes #18) 2m 18.427s
8 Nick Catsburg (BMW #46) 2m 18.451s
9 Vincent Abril (Bentley #84) 2m 18.482s
10 Steven Kane (Bentley #7) 2m 18.492s
12 Nicki Thiim (Audi R8 LMS #5) 2m 19.123s
…
14 André Lotterer (Audi R8 LMS #6) 2m 19.262s