Gounon Grabs Pole for Misano Race 2
Photo: JEP/SRO Jules Gounon set the fastest time in qualifying for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup Race 2 at Misano by narrowly pipping Kelvin van der Linde. Substituting for Sprint Cup regular Chris Lulham in the No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO as the Briton recovers from a medical procedure, Gounon responded after losing a provisional pole lap to a track limits infringement with a further improvement that knocked van der Linde off the top spot. Gounon’s 1:32.017 effort was just 0.057 seconds faster than the No. 32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 Evo which took victory in Race 1 on Saturday evening and marked his first Sprint Cup pole since Magny-Cours 2024. A strong effort from Kobe Pauwels in the No. 7 Comtoyou Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO secured third, 0.068 shy of pole, and put the 21-year-old ahead of Max Hesse’s No. 46 WRT BMW which started Race 1 from pole. Arthur Leclerc improved late on to start fifth in his No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 29...