The front of LMP3 and GT3 grids will be filled by Phoenix Racing and Iron Lynx after two drama filled qualifying sessions at Monza.
The LMP3 session was interrupted by two red flags, both caused by the no16 Team Virage Ligier of Matthias Luthen, the German driver’s car stopping on track.
Freddie Hunt had set the pace early in the session in the no21 Muehlner Motorsport Duqueine, the British driver posting two quick laps in succession. Antoine Doquin made a bid for his third pole position in a row in the no37 Cool Racing Ligier but was passed by the no5 Phoenix Racing Ligier of 16-year-old Finn Gehrsitz and the no11 WTM Powered by Phoenix of Thorsten Kratz. Gehrsitz’s time of 1m44.785 was 01.76s ahead of Kratz, with Doquin taking third place at the chequered flag just ahead of Hunt.
Finn Gershitz - #5 Phoenix Racing
“The red flags upset our strategy, it was not an easy qualifying for us, I was on my second fast lap when the red flag came on and one of my fast laps got cancelled because of track limits so I just had one lap and it was not easy.
“Being at the front at the start with such a competitive field is an advantage for me, as there are more than twenty cars. I hope no one will crash in the first chicane because it’s a really tricky corner for a start but let’s make out the best of it.”
The GT3 pole was claimed by Iron Lynx with the no8 Ferrari taking the top spot with Gabriele Lancieri. The early pace was set by Ben Keating in the no97 TF Sport Aston Martin but the American was displaced first by the no2 Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT Porsche of Nicolas Leutwiler and then the no8 Ferrari.
Sarah Bovy in the no9 Iron Lynx Ferrari was up to third as she began her last lap.The Belgian driver took the chequered flag in 1m49.357 to snatch second spot, just 0.065s behind her Italian teammate and nearly two tenths ahead of the no97 Aston Martin
Gabriele Lancieri - #8 Iron Lynx
« I’m really happy to be on pole, thank you to Iron Lynx for the effort. I’m even more happy that I have not been racing for a year now, so it is a great satisfaction to be on pole.
“Sarah was amazing, she made a really good effort and since the start of the season she is improving a lot. But the race has not started yet, and we will try to maintain the pace and keep our positions.”
CLICK HERE for the result from qualifying in Monza
