Jordan Pepper snatched pole for DTM Qualifying 1 at the Sachsenring, the South African firing his #63 TGI by Team Lamborghini Huracán GT3 to the top of the times with a 1m16.826sec. The effort not only secured him three vital championship points but also pulled him to within 12 points of series leader Lucas Auer.

Jules Gounon pushed hard in the #48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter, falling just 0.123 seconds short of Pepper’s benchmark. Behind him, Britain’s Ben Green continued his strong form in the #10 Emil Frey Ferrari, sealing third place and the final qualifying point with a 1m16.997sec.

For Auer, it was a session of setbacks. The Austrian was among those penalised early on for pitlane speeding, and with time slipping away he left it late to post a flyer. A 1m17.217sec was all he could manage, good enough for fifth but leaving the door open for Pepper to close the championship gap.

Green was the first to dip below 1m17sec and briefly looked set for pole before Pepper struck back with his decisive lap, the South African continuing his quick pace from Friday practice. Gounon threatened in the middle sectors but couldn’t quite find enough to deny the Lamborghini driver, settling for a place on the front row.

DTM Sachsenring – Qualifying 1 Top 10

  1. Jordan Pepper (#7 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3) – 1:16.826
  2. Jules Gounon (#48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER Mercedes-AMG GT3) – 1:16.949 (+0.123)
  3. Ben Green (#14 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) – 1:16.997 (+0.171)
  4. Luca Engstler (#19 TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT Lamborghini Huracán GT3) – 1:17.154 (+0.328)
  5. Lucas Auer (#22 Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf Mercedes-AMG GT3) – 1:17.217 (+0.391)
  6. Jack Aitken (#10 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) – 1:17.222 (+0.396)
  7. Maro Engel (#130 Mercedes-AMG Team Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3) – 1:17.245 (+0.419)
  8. Thierry Vermeulen (#69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3) – 1:17.304 (+0.478)
  9. Thomas Preining (#91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) – 1:17.313 (+0.487)
  10. Ayhancan Güven (#90 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R) – 1:17.327 (+0.501)

Full results can be found HERE 

The race will get underway at 13:30 local time today.

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