Top Qualifying 3 delivered drama right to the final seconds. Team Abt sprang a surprise to lock out the front row. Christopher Haase in the Scherer Sport Audi R8 #16 was the last driver across the line and snatched third place. Daniel Juncadella in the Verstappen Mercedes-AMG GT3 claimed fourth, while Thomas Preining in the Manthey Porsche #911 lost crucial time after a minor off-track moment and had to settle for eighth.
#7 Stalidzane / Paul / Engelhart / Lefterov (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2)
2:08 p.m. The car was not on all four wheels when the 3-minute board was shown (will be reviewed by the stewards after TQ).
#16 Haase / Sims / Green (Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II)
1:47 p.m. Christopher Haase is the final driver to begin the individual time trial.
#67 Olsen / Mies / Vervisch / Stippler (Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026))
1:45 p.m. Frederic Vervisch is the first driver sent out by Clerk of the Course Walter Hornung.
#80 Engel / Stolz / Schiller / Martin (Mercedes-AMG GT3)
1:40 p.m. Maro Engel on his accident in Top Qualifying 1, which ended the RAVENOL Mercedes-AMG GT3’s hopes of reaching the decisive individual time trial: “That is obviously very disappointing. Apologies to the team – this is not the result any of us were hoping for. It was my mistake; the tyre was not yet fully up to temperature. That’s why I tried to push a little harder to build temperature, but I ended up going off. Our focus is now on the race. We have a great team, and the guys are already working to repair the car and prepare it as well as possible for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to getting back out on track.”
#82 Marco Vitonelli / Schröder / Pydys / Brandl (Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Typ 982))
1:07 p.m. The car was too fast under Code 60 and must serve a drive-through penalty after the opening lap of the race.
#84 Engstler / Bortolotti / Niederhauser (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2)
2:12 p.m. Luca Engstler moves to the top of the timesheets, although several cars are still out on track.
2:31 p.m. Luca Engstler: “That was exhausting. The conditions were far from easy. At first, we thought we would go with a dry-wet tyre, then a cut slick came into the picture, and in the end, it was a full slick after all. It was right on the limit — but that is exactly what the Nordschleife is all about.”
#130 Mapelli / Catsburg / Yelloly (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2)
2:06 p.m. Marco Mapelli takes provisional pole position after the first timed lap, ahead of Max Paul in the #7 Stalidzane / Paul / Engelhart / Lefterov (Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2) and Christopher Haase in the #16 Haase / Sims / Green (Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II).
2:12 p.m. Marco Mapelli is unable to retake provisional pole and slots into second place for the time being.
#444 Korn / Korn / Korn / Levlev (Porsche Cayman CM12*)
1:03 p.m. Daniel Korn: “It was difficult. At first it was still dry, then the rain came back. We were on slicks, so we decided not to take any more risks and to call it a day. We don’t think it will dry out again today, so that’s it for us.”
#911 Estre / Güven / Preining / Campbell (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Evo26)
1:54 p.m. Thomas Preining overtook Frederic Vervisch in the #67 Olsen / Mies / Vervisch / Stippler (Ford Mustang GT3 EVO (2026)) on the formation lap and will therefore be the first to start the opening timed lap.