Bathurst: Engel's record lap leaves GruppeM on top in qualifying
Maro Engel set the fastest lap in LIQUI MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour history during a thrilling qualifying session at Mount Panorama.
The German laid down a 2:01.0536s to dominate proceedings in the #999 GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG.
His time undercut the previous benchmark set by Shane van Gisbergen in 2016.
Seven years ago, van Gisbergen — aboard a McLaren — clocked a 2:01.2860s en route to pole.
Come 2023, and Engel — who finished second last year — wiped 0.2324s off the Kiwi's time.
Engel’s efforts came in two-part qualifying, with the Shootout running order set off aggregate times.
The #999 GruppeM scored provisional pole, and will be in the second part of the Pirelli Top 10 Shootout.
The two-part fight for the Allan Simonsen Pole Award will commence at 4:10pm local time.