Mercedes Ace Marciello starts from pole for Race Two

Raffaele Marciello, at the wheel of the #89 AKKODIS ASP Team Mercedes-AMG GT3, snatched pole position for Race Two of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Round Two at Brands Hatch with a 1:21.370 in the last four minutes of the 20-minute session. Patric Niederhauser, who looked to have taken pole in the final quarter of the session in the #25 Sainteloc Junior Team Audi R8 LMS EVO II GT3 with a 1:21.443, had to settle for second.

Completing the first three grid positions was Dries Vanthoor in the #32 Team WRT Audi with a 1:21.582

“It was not as relaxing as I wanted it but it was a mega achievement to get pole,” said Marciello. “I knew the car was good enough to get pole so I’m happy!”

Quickest of the Silver Cup entries was the #53 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 in which Jean Pierre Alexandre set a 1:21.942, followed by Casper Stevenson in the #87 AKKODIS ASP Team Mercedes.

Honours in the Pro-Am category went to Christian Klein in the JP Motorsport McLaren.

Ben Barker in the #78 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo went 6th quickest overall with a 1:21.875 but the car is unlikely to be racing on Sunday as teammate Alex Malykhin is unwell.

The lights go out for the start of Race One at 11:25 local time on Sunday MAy 1.