Blancpain GT Series Press Release
Christopher Mies proved to be quickest in the qualifying session of the Algarve round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. With his #2 Audi Sport Team WRT R8, the German was almost four tenths quicker than Vincent Abril in the #84 Bentley Team HTP Continental, with Series leader Laurens Vanthoor in the #1 Audi Sport Team WRT car only four hundredths of a second behind the Frenchman.
All through qualifying lap times were cancelled for not respecting track limits. That nearly caused the #88 Reiter Lamborghini - one of the fastest cars in free practice - to drop out of the top-8 going to Q3, but Nick Catsburg just managed to go through. In the decisive part, the Dutchman had to settle for eighth due to problems with the engine.
With five Audi's in the top-8, there was not much room for other cars in Q3. Beside Abril's Bentley and Catsburg's Gallardo only Craig Dolby got his Nissan into the final part, eventually qualifying in sixth.
Just outside the decisive part was the #333 Rinaldi Ferrari and both the Brazilian BMW's. Max Van Splunteren set the fastest time in the Silver Cup with the #83 Bentley Team HTP car, while Marko Asmer took pole in Pro-Am, driving the #71 GT Russian Mercedes.
The Qualifying Race of the fifth round of the Blancpain Sprint Series starts this afternoon, at 14:15 local time.
Christopher Mies (#2 Audi Sport Team WRT Audi): "We had a hard time to get a good time in Q2, but after small adjustments all fell into place for Q3. Now we're on the grid with the Series leader right behind us, and one of the contenders next to us on the front row. This is a very competitive Series, so it will not be easy to keep that first position, but we will certainly try our best."
Photo credit: Blancpain GT Series / W Racing Team
