How The 28 Cars For The N24 Pole Shootout Will Be Decided

The startlingly complex qualifying system for the ‘Top Qualifying’ session on Friday evening means that there will be no real conclusion on who has qualified for the shoot-out until after tomorrow afternoon’s near 2-hour session, and even then only after the data has been analysed and checked by the timekeepers.

The fact is that despite an initial release of the details of the system, plus an information sheet issued to media here, there were still key questions which needed clarification.

So then, our best shot at what can be determined is this:

80% of the top class (SP9, including SPX and SP-Pro) will make their way to the ‘Top Qualifying session, that 80% equates to 28 cars.

Of those 17 car have already pre-qualified for the session via theoretical lap times posted in qualifying and the races for the first three VLN races and in the ADAC N24 Qualifying race (Listed below):

#1 Manthey Porsche
#2 Black Falcon AMG
#3 Black Falcon AMG
#4 Phoenix Audi
#5 Phoenix Audi
#12 Manthey Porsche
#29 Land Audi
#31 Frikadelli Porsche
#42 Schnitzer BMW
#44 Falken Porsche
#45 Kondo Nissan
#98 Rowe BMW
#99 Rowe BMW
#100 Walkenhorst BMW
#101 Walkenhorst BMW
#705 SCG Glickenhaus
#911 Manthey Porsche

That leaves 11 spaces and 19 cars capable of qualifying for the shoot-out.

They will do so by an analysis of the theoretical best lap for each car based on best sector times across tonight’s and tomorrow’s two qualifying sessions.

However, there is a guaranteed split for the Pro-AM cars in Top Qualifying which means that of those 19 places still available, just three will go to Pro class cars and eight to the Pro-Ams.

The three Pro positions will, therefore, be fought out by nine teams:

#7 Konrad Lamborghini
#8 IronForce by RingPolice Porsche
#14 Car Collection Audi
#16 GetSpeed AMG
#18 GetSpeed AMG
#30 Frikadelli Porche
#33 Falken BMW
#48 Mann Filter AMG
#55 Octane 126 Ferrari

Whilst Eight positions will be fought out amongst 10 Pro-Am teams:

#6 Black Falcon AMG
#11 Wochenspiegel Ferrari
#15 Car Collection Audi
#17 GetSpeed AMG
#19 Bandoh Lexus
#22 Wochenspiegel Ferrari
#38 KCMG Nissan
#39 KCMG Nissan
#50 Speedline BMW Z4
#56 Toyota Gazoo Racing Lexus

Top Qualifying will then be determined by a shoot-out, cars released at 10-second intervals, followed by two flying laps apiece.