Benjamin Goethe was the fastest in Pre-Qualifying for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The young German driver delivered a strong performance in the #59 Garage 59 McLaren 720S EVO GT3, setting the benchmark time of 1:40.870 during the 60-minute session on Saturday afternoon.

Right behind him was Bastian Buus in the #888 UNX Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, only 0.267 seconds adrift. Dennis Marschall, the current Bronze Cup points leader, impressed again by placing third with the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3. Louis Prette continued Garage 59’s strong pace, securing fourth in the sister #58 McLaren.

Fabian Schiller was fifth for Team GetSpeed, clocking a solid lap in the #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, followed closely by Tommaso Mosca in the #52 AF Corse Francorchamps Ferrari. Thomas Preining put the #911 Pure Rxcing Porsche in seventh, while Maro Engel, who currently leads the championship standings, finished eighth in the #48 Team MANN-FILTER Mercedes-AMG GT3. Marvin Dienst (#81 Winward Racing Mercedes) and Eddie Cheever III (#93 Ziggo Sport Tempesta Ferrari) completed the top ten.

It was a more challenging afternoon for other title contenders. The #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo struggled for pace and ended up only 59th, while the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche finished 36th. Heading into the final round of the season, the #48 Team MANN-FILTER Mercedes trio of Maro Engel, Matteo Cairoli, and Lucas Auer leads the Endurance Cup standings by five points over WRT’s Charles Weerts, Kelvin van der Linde, and Ugo de Wilde, with Rutronik Racing’s Porsche crew 13 points behind.

The battle for the Endurance Cup title is set to go down to the wire. Qualifying gets underway at 10:25 CEST on Sunday morning, ahead of the all-important season finale.

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