Boutsen VDS Claims Historic Maiden Pole for Portimão Finale in Thrilling Qualifying Battle
PORTIMÃO, PORTUGAL — The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve provided a dramatic backdrop as Boutsen VDS delivered a phenomenal qualifying performance to secure a historic maiden pole position for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS season finale.
Format and Technical Execution Under the Portuguese Sun
Conducted across three intense segments where each driver completed a run to establish a combined average lap time, the session tested machine and driver alike under the warm Portuguese sun.
The #2 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo crew of Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello mastered the undulating 4.635 km circuit with exceptional consistency.
By topping the times across multiple phases, the squad locked down the ultimate spot to lead a star-studded grid into the final endurance showdown of the year.
High-Speed Front-Row Chases and Stuttgart Pace
The fight at the sharp end of the grid proved exceptionally close, with razor-thin margins separating the top contenders across the technical and high-speed sections of the Algarve layout.
The GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 squad—featuring Ralf Aron, Maximilian Götz, and Fabian Schiller—pushed hard to secure second place overall, falling just a fraction shy of the pole-setting benchmark.
Meanwhile, the Lionspeed GP Porsche lineup consisting of Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining, and Bastian Buus rounded out an impressive top three, showcasing strong single-lap pace for Stuttgart machinery.
Expanding Pro Class Contenders and Standout Performances
Beyond the pole-setting Boutsen VDS Porsche, the Pro Cup field featured intense multi-manufacturer battles across the three-part qualifying segments at Portimão.
The factory-supported Mercedes-AMG contingent showed formidable speed throughout the sessions.
The GetSpeed squad consistently threatened the top of the timesheets in their #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, ultimately securing a strong starting position near the sharp end of the grid.
Similarly, the #48 MANN-FILTER Mercedes-AMG lineup of Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz, and Maro Engel kept themselves firmly in the hunt for overall honors.
Ferrari and AF Corse Counter-Attacks
AF Corse injected significant pace into the Pro category with their #50 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo.
A standout performance came from Lilou Wadoux, who delivered one of the fastest individual laps in the final segment to lift the #50 crew high up the order, showcasing exceptional raw speed against deeply established GT3 specialists.
BMW Factory Squads and Midfield Bottlenecks
Team WRT experienced a more complex qualifying outing as they attempted to extract single-lap performance from their BMW M4 GT3 Evos.
While entries like the #46 car featuring Valentino Rossi, Max Hesse, and Neil Verhagen worked hard to manage mid-pack traffic, the overall balance of the BMW fleet left them searching for extra mechanical grip as track evolution shifted toward sunset.
Midfield Traffic and Class Battle Dynamics
Further down the heavily contested order, the battle lines were drawn across multiple professional and secondary classes as teams hunted for crucial championship points.
Selected Car Racing’s #71 Ferrari squad put in a stellar shift to capture a strong starting berth near the front, while various Pro-Am and Bronze Cup contenders maximized track evolution as ambient temperatures gradually cooled toward sunset.
High-Profile Paddock Focus and Setup Hurdles
Considerable paddock attention also focused on high-profile midfield runners, including the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry.
The crew faced a challenging, setup-heavy session plagued by excessive mechanical sparking and handling limitations, forcing them to dig deep from the mid-pack traffic as they prepared for a demanding evening race.
With track position valued at an absolute premium on the sweeping, undulating Portuguese circuit, Boutsen VDS holds the ultimate tactical advantage as the endurance grid gears up for the final green flag of the 2026 season.