Alex Müller puts Vitaphone Maserati on pole in Hungary

After his heartbreak during the Spa 24 Hours, Alex Müller turned his luck around by claiming pole position for the FIA GT race at the Hungaroring. Driving the number 2 Vitaphone Racing driver lapped the 4.381 kilometres long circuit in 1:41.815 minutes, the outright fastest lap time of the day. For the German, it is his fourth career pole position in FIA GT.

Stephane Lemeret is the first driver out on the track as GT1 qualifying gets underway at 5.10 pm. Rain drops are reported at turns 2, 3 and 5. Vitaphone's Alex Müller is the first driver to claim the top position with a lap time of 1:42.582 minutes, but he is soon outpaced by K-plus-K's Karl Wendlinger with 1:42.369 minutes. Next time round, Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi claims the top spot with his Sangari Corvette with a time of 1:42.1665.

Müller climbs back up into second with 1:42.247 and is even quicker on his next flying lap which brings him on top with 1:41.815 minutes halfway through the session. Karl Wendlinger improves to second with 1:41.929 minutes, followed by Bernoldi, Maassen, Bertolini and Hezemans. The latter already climbs out of his car with five minutes remaining. "With so much success ballast on board, I can't do any better", the Dutchman reckoned.

Renaud Kuppens briefly spins his Marc VDS Racing Ford at turn 13, but the Belgian is able to continue. Now, rain drops are reported all around the track. Pier Guidi still improves to fourth place with the number 33 Vitaphone Maserati with a lap time of 1:42.375 minutes. Other than that, there are no more improvements, which means that Alex Müler will be starting from pole position for tomorrow's race. Wendlinger remains second, followed by Bernoldi, Pier Guidi, Maassen, Bertolini, Hezemans, Longin, Lacko and Lemeret.

Alex Müller commented after his pole-winning qualifying run: "The Maserati was perfect. The set-up was great, otherwise it would not have been possible to beat the Saleen. I am very happy!"