Jack Aitken has become the eighth different pole-sitter in nine qualifying sessions in his #14 Emil Frey Ferrari 296 GT3 with a time of 1:19.937 ahead of Race 1.
The times were tumbling as the session wound down at the high-speed Lausitzring circuit, with Aitken setting the time to take his first pole position in the DTM series, but his margin over the competition was tight, as the 2023 campaign continues to serve up close competition.
In second place was Mirko Bortolotti in the #92 SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan Evo 2, who is one of the eight winners in eight races so far this season. He put in a time just 0.054s shy of Aitken’s pace.
In third spot was Lucas Auer in the #22 Team WINWARD Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, setting a time of 1:20.016.
In fourth and fifth places were the ABT Sportline pairing of Kelvin van der Linde and Ricardo Feller (who won Race 2 in Zandvoort), with Van der Linde taking the former spot in the #3 Audi R8 LMS Evo 2 with a time of 1:20.020, and Feller taking the latter in the #7 Audi with a time of 1:20.168.
Reigning champion Sheldon van der Linde (and winner of Race 1 at the Norisring) came home with the sixth-best time in qualifying, lapping the Lausitzring in his #1 Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 in 1:20.248, 0.311 behind from pole.
Next up was Aitken’s Emil Frey Racing teammate Thierry Vermeulen in seventh, confirming the Ferrari 296 GT3’s pace around the Lausitzring by ensuring both Emil cars were in the top-10 by lapping the circuit in his #69 machine in a time of 1:20.263.
Clemens Schmid took eighth in the #63 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 for GRT Grasser Racing Team, as the Austrian’s time of 1:20.285 was 0.348 away from the pole benchmark.
In ninth was Luca Stolz in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Team HRT, setting a time of 1:20.290.
Rounding out the top-10 was the winner last time out at the Nürburgring, Maximilian Paul, as he set a time of 1:20.298 for GRT Grasser Racing Team in the #19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2.
Out of Friday’s early pacesetters, it was Franck Perera who fared better. The Frenchman, who won the season-opening race at Oschersleben, was fastest in yesterday’s opening practice session but only managed 13th in qualifying with a time of 1:20.434 in the #94 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 for SSR Performance.
The fastest driver in second practice, Jusuf Owega, was only 15th, setting a time of 1:20.464 in the #84 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Team Landgraf.
But it is Aitken who will start Saturday’s race from pole position as he aims to be the ninth winner in as many races in the 2023 DTM season.
Race 1 at the Lausitzring commences at 13:30 local time.
