After two free practice sessions, it was time later in the afternoon for the drivers in the Prototype Cup Germany to take to the track for the first qualifying session of the race weekend at the Dekra Lausitzring. In sunny but cool weather, Danny Soufi (21/USA, Konrad Motorsport) secured the best starting position for the opening race, which takes place on Saturday afternoon. Behind the American, Valentino Catalano (19/Westheim, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) took second place with Mattias Bjerre Jakobsen (18/DEN, BWT Mücke Motorsport) third.
“I am happy with my lap. On the whole, it was a good qualifying,” said Soufi after the session. “I must thank my team Konrad Motorsport for the great car. Without them, a lap time like that would not have been possible. The track was getting faster all the time towards the end of the session, and I really gave the car some stick at times.” The Texan’s time of 1:19.853 minutes was 0.455 seconds faster than second-placed Catalano. “I am actually happy with my performance. I could not have done much more,” said the Gebhardt man. “Maybe I could have gone 0.1 or 0.15 seconds faster, but that would have been all. Danny Soufi’s Konrad team seems to have found a really good set-up for his Ligier. I am the best-placed Duqueine in the field and believe we will also have good pace in the race. Anything is possible from the front row of the grid.”
Jakobsen, who was still struggling with the Lausitzring at first, was also satisfied with his third place. “At the start of qualifying I had trouble getting my tyres up to the right temperature. Then, after a few laps there was something odd at the rear-left of the car. It was probably just pick-up that I had collected, but it still gave me a bit of a shock. Then the end of qualifying went really well and I was able to take another big step forward. I think I still have potential to do even better.”
Jakobsen won the internal battle against team-mate Maksymilian Angelard (17/POL, BWT Mücke Motorsport), who was just 0.097 seconds slower than the Dane. Zino-Ferret Fahlke (18/Hergiswil, Konrad Motorsport) secured fifth place in his first qualifying in the Prototype Cup Germany, ahead of Sven Barth (44/Eberbach, Aust Motorsport). Michael Herich (47/Brühl, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) won the battle of the two Trophy drivers. He ended the session in seventh place, ahead of his rival Thomas Ambiel (45/Eppingen, Rinaldi Racing).
