Top-30 Qualifying: BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS starts from the front row – Five BMW Z4 GT3s in the top 30

Nürburgring (DE), 20th June 2014. Maxime Martin (BE) produced an excellent performance in Top-30 Qualifying ahead of the Nürburgring 24 Hours to land the number 25 BMW Z4 GT3 on the front row of the grid. The BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS driver’s fastest time of 8:13.497 minutes earned him second place in a spectacular qualifying on the Nordschleife. Only the number 66 McLaren went quicker, claiming pole in a time of 8:10.921 minutes.

In total, five BMW Z4 GT3s made it through to Top-30 Qualifying. Dirk Werner (DE) of BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert ensured that the number 19 car will start from fifth. His team-mate Jens Klingmann (DE) qualified 11th in the second Schubert car (number 20). Nick Catsburg (NL) of BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS was 13th quickest. Christopher Brück (DE) secured 24th place for the number BMW Z4 GT3, which is fielded by the Walkenhorst Motorsport team.

The Scheid-Partl Motorsport team claimed pole position in the BMW M235i Racing Cup with a fastest time of 9:33.656 minutes. Second place went to Walkenhorst Motorsport. The number 235 BMW M235i Racing, featuring a special BMW Motorsport livery, will start the race from 83rd on the grid.

Maxime Martin (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, #25, 2nd):
“We can be very happy with a place on the front row. The team did a good job and we are pleased with this result. However, you do not win a 24-hour race in qualifying. It does not make a big difference whether you start from the first, second or third row. It is far more important to consistently set fast lap times and avoid making any mistakes.”

Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, #19, 5th):
“Thank you to my team for allowing me to drive in qualifying. This is the only time you ever get two free laps of the Nordschleife. The car was superb and I was able to push really hard. The starting positions of all the BMW Z4 GT3s give us a lot of confidence going into the race.”

Jens Klingmann (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, #20, 11th):
“It is great fun to have a free lap of the Nordschleife. Eleventh is okay and we completed our programme as planned. Unfortunately I had some traffic and a yellow flag on my fastest lap. That is why we are not starting from a higher position.”

Nick Catsburg (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, #26, 13th):

“I am very happy. Two free laps in one of the best cars, on one of the best circuits – that is awesome. You could see that the BMW Z4 GT3 has good speed. We are well prepared and have an excellent starting position for the race. Bring it on.”

Christopher Brück (Walkenhorst Motorsport, #28, 24th):
“I am not entirely satisfied, as there was definitely a bit more in it for us. Despite this, it is still a good starting position. Twenty four hours is a long time, and so much can happen in that time. We have a good combination of drivers, all of whom are equally quick, and the car is well prepared. We are now aiming for a nice race tomorrow. The goal is a place in the top ten. That is definitely possible, provided we finish.”