Nobody could match Oscar Tunjo (29, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) in the opening qualifying session of this year’s Prototype Cup Germany at Circuit Spa-Francorchamps. The Columbian ended the 15-minute session 0.72 seconds faster than Riccardo Leone Cirelli (17/ITA, BWT Mücke Motorsport), with Danny Soufi (21/USA, Konrad Motorsport) taking third place. Race one gets underway tomorrow morning at 10:35 and lasts 55 minutes plus one lap.
With six minutes of qualifying remaining, Oscar Tunjo was sitting pretty in first place, but with second-placed Danny Soufi lurking ominously. However, instead of moving up the timings sheet, the American found himself dropping below Riccardo Leone Cirelli. He then failed to get in a clear lap and was unable to fight back successfully. “I am still happy with my qualifying,” said Soufi. “It was my first qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps, and I did not get in many kilometres in the dry beforehand either. However, the gap of 0.9 seconds to the leaders is still pretty big, so we definitely have some work to do tomorrow.”
One spot ahead of Soufi, Cirelli was pleased with his second place, but was already thinking about going one better. “We will push hard in the race and want to win,” he said, laying down a challenge to his rivals. That is something that Tunjo would obviously like to prevent. “My first flying lap in qualifying was quite good, and I was then able to improve on that. I am also pleased for my team Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport that they are back on top again after last year’s success, when they won both the Driver and Team titles.”
Mattis Pluschkell (20/Elmenhorst, BWT Mücke Motorsport), Maxim Dirickx (20/BEL, Aust Motorsport), Michael Herich (47/Brühl, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) and Thomas Ambiel (45/Eppingen, Rinaldi Racing) followed in positions four to seven. Herich ended qualifying as the best-placed Trophy driver, after a battle with Ambiel. “Qualifying was okay for me. I have improved with each session so far in Spa, and still have potential to get even better.” The session’s biggest loser was Keanu Al-Azhari (17/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport), who was forced to sit out qualifying due to a faulty fuel pump.
