Nürburgring 24 Hours: Lamborghini Takes Top Qualifying 2 Pole, Verstappen Advances

The #130 Red Bull Team ABT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 topped Top Qualifying 2 for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, setting a 8:10.485 lap. Max Verstappen, driving the #3 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG, scraped through in sixth place to earn a spot in the final Top Qualifying 3 session.

Why it matters:

With 20 cars advancing from Top Qualifying 2, the stage is set for a dramatic shootout ahead of Saturday's endurance classic. The pole position battle remains tight, with the top five entries separated by less than a second. Verstappen's presence in the final qualifying round adds star power and raises expectations for the race.

The details:

• Pole winners: #130 Lamborghini (Mapelli, Catsburg, Yelloly) edged #34 Aston Martin (Krognes, Drudi, Thiim, Fernandez Laser) by just 0.139 seconds.
• Manufacturer spread: Porsche (#911 Manthey), Ford (#64 HRT), and Mercedes (#3 Winward) rounded out the top five, showcasing deep competition.
• Verstappen's run: The Red Bull F1 driver posted 8:11.614, enough to advance but nearly 1.2 seconds off the pace – a gap he'll aim to close in Top Qualifying 3.
• Notable absentees: Several pre-race favorites, including #75 Max Kruse Audi (11th) and #44 Falken Porsche (12th), failed to reach the top 10 but still made the cut.

What's next:

Top Qualifying 3 will determine the final grid order for the 24-hour race. With Lamborghini showing strong form and Porsche, Ford, and Aston Martin lurking, the fight for pole is wide open. Verstappen's raw speed in qualifying trim could make him a dark horse for the front row.

The race itself promises intense battles across the Nordschleife, with tire strategy and reliability likely to decide the winner.