The Nürburgring 24h Qualifiers Race 1 was a true test of skill, strategy, and resilience, as teams faced the ever-unpredictable Eifel weather. The drama began in qualifying, where Manthey EMA’s Kevin Estre snatched pole position in the dying moments with a blistering 8m07.286sec lap, reclaiming the top spot for the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R after a fierce battle with rivals from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Audi, and Mercedes-AMG. The session showcased the sheer competitiveness of the field, with five different manufacturers securing the top five positions.

The battle for pole was nothing short of spectacular. For much of the session, the #911 Manthey-Grello Porsche looked untouchable, setting a benchmark time of 8m07.717sec. However, the final 20 minutes saw a flurry of attacks from challengers. David Perel in the #45 Realize Kondo Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 briefly dethroned the Porsche, before Ralf Aron (#17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed), Mattia Drudi (#34 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3), and Christopher Haase (#1 Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3) all improved their times, shuffling the order at the top. Just as the chequered flag fell, Kevin Estre delivered a stunning lap, reclaiming pole for Manthey EMA in dramatic fashion.

ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers Qualifying 1 Results, Top 5

  1. #911 Estre / Pilet (Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R), 8:09.063
  2. #34 Krognes / Giermaziak / Pittard / Thiim (Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3), 8:10.130
  3. #1 Haase / Ludwig (Scherer Sport PHX Audi R8 LMS GT3), 8:10.384
  4. #17 Aron / Christodoulou / Grenier (Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3), 8:10.488
  5. #45 Perel / Fernandez Laser / Jefferies / Neubauer (Realize Kondo Racing Ferrari 296 GT3), 8:10.684

As the race commenced under rain-soaked conditions, the treacherous track turned the contest into a battle of survival. Early dominance from Estre in the Manthey EMA Porsche was undone as the worsening grip levels played havoc with the frontrunners. Scherer Sport PHX’s #16 Porsche 911 GT3 R, piloted by Laurens Vanthoor and Patric Niederhauser, capitalized on the changing conditions, executing a masterful drive to clinch victory.

Despite a valiant effort, the pole-sitting Manthey EMA Porsche had to settle for second place, while GetSpeed’s #14 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Maxime Martin, Fabian Schiller, and Luca Stolz, secured the final podium spot. The race was a true endurance battle, where adaptability and precision proved decisive.

ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers Race 1 Results, Top 5

  1. #16 Niederhauser / Vanthoor (Scherer Sport PHX Porsche 911 GT3 R)
  2. #911 Estre / Pilet (Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) + 2:29.403
  3. #14 Martin / Schiller / Stolz (Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3) + 4:50.779
  4. #54 Buus / Sturm / Hartog (Dinamic GT SRL Porsche 911 GT3 R) + 6:17.106
  5. #44 Boccolacci / Menzel (Falken Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) + 1 lap

The first day offered a glimpse into the competitive dynamics ahead of Day 2 of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, set to begin on Sunday at 08:15 CEST.

Photos by JP Wagner.

 

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