The second race of the 2026 24h Nurburgring Qualifiers is set to commence with the Kondo Ferrari #45, piloted by Perel, Marschall, and Vermeulen, starting from the coveted pole position. Thierry Vermeulen's exceptional driving led to the fastest time in top qualifying, registering 8:10.275 minutes, a mere whisper ahead of his closest competitor. This outcome highlights the intense competition and minute differences that define professional motorsports.
Kondo Ferrari Secures Pole in Thrilling Nurburgring Qualifier
In a nail-biting qualifying session on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Kondo Ferrari #45, with its ace driver Thierry Vermeulen at the wheel, edged out its rivals to claim pole position for the second race of the Nurburgring 24h Qualifiers. Vermeulen's blistering lap time of 8:10.275 minutes barely surpassed David Jahn's effort in the Gamota BMW #23 by an astonishing one-thousandth of a second, setting the stage for a dramatic race.
Vermeulen expressed his gratitude to the team, stating, "The team delivered an incredible car. We've continuously improved since the last NLS race. Despite some challenges yesterday, the overnight adjustments made all the difference, allowing me a clear, traffic-free lap."
The starting grid for the upcoming race sees the Scherer-Phx Audi #16 (Haase/Sims/B. Green) in third, followed by the formidable Manthey Porsche #911 “Grello” (Preining/Campbell). The Winward Mercedes #3 (Verstappen/Auer), driven by Lucas Auer in qualifying, will start from fifth. The top ten also feature the Prosport Mercedes #26, Schnitzelalm Mercedes #11, Black Falcon Porsche #48, Winward Mercedes #80, and Black Falcon Porsche #5, promising a fierce battle among elite racing teams.
The qualifying session, a crucial preparation for the main event, involved individual time trials for the SP9 class cars, with each driver completing two laps. The Nordschleife, initially wet in the morning, gradually dried, allowing all participants to switch to slick tires for top qualifying. However, treacherous damp patches persisted, impacting several drivers. Alessio Picariello, driving the Dunlop Porsche #17, unfortunately, spun out and hit the guardrail during his warm-up lap, sustaining damage to his vehicle. Similarly, his teammate Sven Muller in the Falken Porsche #44 encountered an off-track incident in the Hatzenbach section, bringing his session to an early end and necessitating yellow flags that slowed subsequent competitors.
Despite these incidents and the challenge of navigating the accident zone, many drivers managed to improve their times on their second flying laps. This kept the fight for pole position incredibly close until the very last moments, but ultimately, no one could surpass the initial benchmark established by the DTM driver Vermeulen, whose performance highlighted the exceptional skill required on this demanding track. The second race is scheduled to kick off at 13:00 local time.
The recent Nurburgring Qualifiers have once again demonstrated the unpredictable nature and raw excitement of endurance racing. The razor-thin margins separating the top contenders, coupled with the challenging track conditions, underscore the immense talent and precision demanded from these world-class drivers and their dedicated teams. The incident involving Picariello serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between triumph and mishap in motorsports, where a momentary lapse can have significant consequences. It emphasizes that even under intense pressure, maintaining absolute focus and adapting to rapidly changing circumstances are paramount. As we look forward to the main race, the competitive spirit and the pursuit of perfection showcased in these qualifiers promise an unforgettable spectacle for racing enthusiasts worldwide.
