Max Verstappen showcased his exceptional driving skills at the NLS2 race in Nordschleife, securing pole position with an impressive lap. The renowned Formula 1 champion achieved a time of 7:51.751 in his Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Highlights of the NLS2 Qualifying Session
The qualifying session was marked by numerous interruptions and strategic maneuvers. Verstappen’s remarkable performance left Christopher Haase, driving the Scherer Sport PHX Audi, almost two seconds behind. This gap is significant, equating to 0.5 seconds on a standard 5km circuit.
The Dutch driver’s fastest lap was recorded during a crucial 20-minute green-flag period. He emphasized the importance of timing, stating, “You always need a bit of luck with traffic. I think that was literally the only lap of the day without a Code 60 slowing me down.”
Challenges During the Session
Despite the success, the session faced several challenges. An early incident at the Hohenrain-Schikane caused a 45-minute delay for barrier repairs. Additionally, incidents at Aremberg and Hohe Acht limited opportunities for competitors to improve their times in the final minutes.
- #64 HRT Ford – 20th position
- #54 Dinamic GT Porsche – 22nd position
- #17 Dunlop Porsche – 24th position
The Dunlop Porsche underwent a color and tire change for the ongoing season after a transition from the Falken branding, adding further intrigue to the race.
NLS2 Qualifying Top 10 Results
| Position | Team | Drivers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winward-Mercedes #3 | Verstappen / Juncadella / Gounon | 7:51.751 |
| 2 | Scherer-Phx-Audi #16 | Haase / Hantke | +1.974 |
| 3 | Rowe-BMW #98 | Farfus / Marciello / van der Linde | +2.855 |
| 4 | Walkenhorst-Aston-Martin #34 | Krognes / Drudi | +3.503 |
| 5 | Winward-Mercedes #80 | Schiller / Martin | +3.914 |
| 6 | KCMG-Mercedes #47 | Fukuzumi / Krohn / Pittard / Tsuboi | +4.070 |
| 7 | Rowe-BMW #99 | Harper / Pepper | +4.905 |
| 8 | Kondo-Ferrari #45 | Perel / Vermeulen / Neubauer | +5.061 |
| 9 | HRT-Ford #65 | Haupt / Schumacher / Stippler | +5.664 |
| 10 | Falken-Porsche #44 | Muller / Heinemann | +5.770 |
Verstappen’s performance demonstrates his growing adaptability and skill in endurance racing, highlighting his potential as he prepares for the upcoming challenges in the Nordschleife. Fans can look forward to seeing how this talented driver continues to evolve on this legendary track.
