ADAC GT Masters title defender Ludwig on pole in Race 2

• Luca Ludwig sets new ADAC GT Masters qualifying record for Sachsenring
• Daniel Abt completes front row in second race
• SPORT1 will broadcast race live at 1:00 pm today

Hohenstein-Ernstthal: As at the season opener in Oschersleben, Luca Ludwig (27, DEU, AMG Team Zakspeed) again took best time in qualifying in the Mercedes-AMG at the Sachsenring, setting a new ADAC GT Masters qualifying record for the spectacular roller-coaster of a track at the same time. The pole-setter will share the front row with Daniel Abt (23, DEU, Bentley Team ABT) in the Bentley Continental. SPORT1 will broadcast Race 2 live at 1:00 pm.

"I managed to post a perfect lap," said Ludwig. "The Pirelli tires have unbelievable grip when you get them properly warmed up, and you can then exploit their capabilities to the full. Weather conditions here at the Sachsenring were also perfect. I'll try in the race to gain maximum advantage from pole position and hand the car over to Sebastian (Asch) in the lead. And then we can perhaps rack up another win."

The hunt for records in today's qualifying against the clock continued on a dry track, barely warmed by the sun in the fresh breeze with temperatures of around eight degrees Celsius. After Luca Stolz (20, DEU, GRT Grasser-Racing-Team) had set a new ADAC GT Masters qualifying record for the Sachsenring yesterday in first practice, the drivers broke the record afresh every few minutes today. Finally, Luca Ludwig, winner of the first race with team-mate Sebastian Asch (29, DEU), succeeded in setting the fastest time of 1:18.762 minutes, securing pole position for the second race.

2009 Formel ADAC champion Daniel Abt posted the second-fastest lap with a deficit of just over three tenths of a second. The Audi R8 of Florian Stoll (34, DEU) and Laurens Vanthoor (24, B, both kfzteile24 - APR Motorsport) and the Lamborghini Huracán of Rolf Ineichen (37, CH) and Christian Engelhart (29, DEU, GRT Grasser-Racing-Team) head up the second row, ready to seize the initiative. Nicolai Sylvest (18, DK, AMG Team Zakspeed), who achieved fifth grid position on the grid in his Mercedes-AMG, made a good start to his first ADAC GT Masters qualifying.

Grid positions six to eight are all occupied by the same make of car. Christiaan Frankenhout (34, NL) & Christopher Haase (28, DEU, both Car Collection Motorsport), as well as Isaac Tutumlu Lopez (30, E) & Kelvin van der Linde (19, ZA, both Car Collection Motorsport) and current championship leader Connor De Phillippi (23, USA) and Christopher Mies (26, DEU, both Montaplast by Land-Motorsport) all drive the Audi R8. Another Bentley, driven by Fabian Hamprecht (20, DEU) and Guy Smith (41, GB, both Bentley Team ABT) and the best Corvette C7 with Jules Gounon (21, F) and Daniel Keilwitz (26, DEU, both Callaway Competition) complete the Top Ten.

Fans wishing to experience the ADAC GT Masters live at the racetrack can purchase tickets for all fixtures for the price of 20 euros, which includes access to the paddock, from www.adac.de/motorsport.