Qualifying 1 for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours saw Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella secure pole position for Race 1 in the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3. The pair recorded the fastest combined time of 1:36.023, earning their second overall pole position of the Sprint Cup season after also topping Qualifying 2 at Misano.
The closest challenge came from the #222 2Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, with Kiern Jewiss qualifying second overall, just 0.166 seconds behind the pole time. Jewiss also secured Bronze Cup pole position. Team WRT completed the overall top three as Max Hesse placed the #46 BMW M4 GT3 in third, while the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Lucas Auer and the #12 GetSpeed Team Dubai Mercedes-AMG of Fabian Schiller completed the top five.
Comtoyou Racing continued its strong pace with the #7 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 of Kobe Pauwels and Nicki Thiim in sixth. The sister #21 Aston Martin, shared by Oliver Söderström and Arthur Dorison, qualified seventh overall and claimed Silver Cup pole position. The #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG of Marvin Dienst finished eighth, ahead of the #50 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 of Thomas Neubauer, while the #30 Team WRT BMW of Matisse Lismont completed the overall top ten.
In the Gold Cup, Gilles Magnus secured class pole position in the #10 Boutsen VDS Porsche 911 GT3 R, qualifying 12th overall. Further down the order, the #59 Garage 59 McLaren of Dean Macdonald finished 13th, while the #32 Team WRT BMW and the #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi qualified 17th and 18th respectively.
With Qualifying 1 complete, the grid is now set for the opening race of the Magny-Cours Sprint Cup weekend. Race 1 is scheduled to begin at 21:05 CEST on Saturday, with Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella leading the 45-car field from pole position.
