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Clemens Schmid (AUT)

Qualifying

Clemens Schmid (AUT)
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Qualifying, round 4 at the Formula 1 race at Silverstone/Great Britain, Qualifying
Qualifying thriller: Austria’s Schmid snatches pole position

In a last ditch dash at the qualifying session of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Clemens Schmid (A/Walter Lechner Racing Team) succeeded in posting the top time. The 23-year-old Austrian went up against his rivals under difficult conditions at the British Silverstone circuit and beat the 24-strong field on Saturday to take the front grid spot. “I’m totally thrilled with pole position. I can drive fast, but here it was tactically clever to quickly change from wets to slicks,” said Schmid. Taking up round four of the season on Sunday alongside the Austrian is Porsche junior Connor de Phillippi (USA/FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport). Current series leader Kuba Giermaziak (PL/VERVA Lechner Racing Team) tackles the race from third position, with Porsche junior Alex Riberas (E/Mc Gregor powered by Attempto Racing) starting from position four on the grid.

The adverse weather conditions added some extra spice to the qualifying. Rain in the morning had left the track wet, with the pilots initially opting for wet tyres on their 911 GT3 Cup. But then the rain clouds disappeared and the track surface dried up. “The secret was to switch to slicks at the right time. I watched the others’ times carefully and changed ten minutes before the end of the qualifying session,” explained de Phillippi. Giermaziak shocked his fans early on in the session when he took a journey into the gravel trap. “I was sitting 18th right up until the last minutes, but then I managed to turn a fast lap. Now I’m looking forward to the race,” said Giermaziak with a grin. Two victories have earned the Pole 48 points and the championship lead.

Porsche junior Alex Riberas (E/Mc Gregor powered by Attempto Racing) seemed pleased with his fourth place on the grid. “As a team we’ve taken a big step forward. From position four anything is possible in the race.” The winner of the International Cup Scholarship Earl Bamber (NZ/Fach Auto Tech) fought his way up to the eighth grid position. “We actually had a good tyre strategy, but ultimately luck was not on my side today,” stated 23-year-old Bamber. Porsche junior Klaus Bachler (A/Konrad Motorsport) scored position nine in qualifying ahead of local man Ben Barker (GB/VERVA Lechner Racing Team). “Unfortunately things didn’t go as I’d imagined. I have to make sure I get ahead in the race,” said Bachler. Porsche junior Sven Mueller (D/Team Project 1) decided to take a risk but missed out on getting in a fast lap. “I’m not happy. I encountered a lot of traffic on my last lap. I miscalculated the time,” said Mueller.

Sky Deutschland broadcasts round four on Sunday live from 11.20 hours, with Eurosport televising the race live from 11.30 hours.

Qualifying Silverstone
1. Clemens Schmid (A/Lechner Racing Team) 2:12.362 minutes
2. Connor de Phillippi (USA/FÖRCH Racing by Lukas Motorsport) 2:13.671
3. Kuba Giermaziak (PL/VERVA Lechner Racing Team) 2:13.721
4. Alex Riberas (E/Mc Gregor powered by Attempto Racing) 2:13.902
5. Michael Ammermüller (D/Lechner Racing Team), 2:14.451

All reports on the previous season can be found in our archive.