René Rast leads the way in Audi double pole at Zandvoort

• Rain ensures action-packed qualifying at Zandvoort
• Second successive pole position for René Rast
• Two Audis lock out front row for Sunday’s race

René Rast (27, Germany/ Prosperia C Abt Racing) secured his second pole position on the trot in the Audi R8 LMS ultra during a rain-hit qualifying session for the ADAC GT Masters race in Zandvoort/Netherlands (live on kabel eins at 11:45 am). As the rainfall increased on a sodden track, the winner of the season opener in Oschersleben won through against his team-mate Nicki Thiim (25, DK / Prosperia C Abt Racing), who, in second place in another Audi R8 LMS prepared by Prosperia C Abt Racing, ensured a front-row lock-out for the team. “The rain really played into our hands today. Had it been dry, pole position would certainly not have been possible,” said Rast. In the first race of the ADAC GT Masters on Saturday in Zandvoort (live on kabel eins at 11:45 am), Robert Renauer (29, Germany / TONINO Team Herberth) is in P1 in the Porsche 911. The Porsche driver achieved his maiden pole position in the ADAC GT Masters during Friday’s qualifying.

Qualifying 2 for Race 2 on Sunday

Rast was not only best at coping with the difficult track conditions on the demanding Dutch circuit by the North Sea but was also very lucky. Qualifying was interrupted a total of four times as various drivers spun and skidded off track, and was finally abandoned with three minutes still on the clock. Rast, too, had a bad skid and was forced to end qualifying prematurely. However, the Audi driver was already in the lead at that point and Thiim, who had previously taken the lead from Rast, could no longer beat his team-mate’s time in the final few minutes.

“I’m very happy”, said Rast. “We’re in pole position on Sunday, and my team-mate Kelvin van der Linde is in grid position four today. These are excellent grid positions in both races.”

The quickest local driver will start from fourth position on Sunday. Jaap van Lagen (37, NL / GW IT Racing Team // Schütz Motorsport) took fourth position on the grid in his Porsche 911 behind the BMW Z4 of Dominik Baumann (21, A / PIXUM Team Schubert). Markus Winkelhock (33, Germany / Prosperia C Abt Racing) completed a strong team performance by Prosperia C Abt Racing and will be in fifth position on the grid in the team’s Audi R8. Jeroen Bleekemolen (32, NL / Callaway Competition) in a Corvette will start from P6 in his home race.

kabel eins will broadcast the first of the two ADAC GT Masters races live from Zandvoort, starting at 11:45 am.

Result Qualifying 2 (Top Six):

1. René Rast (Prosperia C Abt Racing, Audi R8 LMS ultra), 1:50.734 mins
2. Nicki Thiim ( Prosperia C Abt Racing, Audi R8 LMS ultra), +0.026 secs
3. Dominik Baumann (PIXUM Team Schubert, BMW Z4 GT3), +0.185 secs
4. Jaap van Lagen (GW IT Racing Team // Schütz Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R), +0.255 secs
5. Markus Winkelhock (Prosperia C. Abt Racing, Audi R8 LMS ultra), +0.287 secs
6. Jeroen Bleekemolen (Callaway Competition, Corvette Z06.R GT3), +0.369 secs