Quotes from the pole position press conference

Kevin Estre / #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R

"It's an incredible feeling and I'm extremely proud to be on pole here this year. It was very warm conditions and it really wasn't easy to find the right tyres and the right pressure. I'm sure we haven't seen many top qualifying sessions in these conditions. The overall grip is a lot less than the rest of the season and it's important to find the right balance for the whole weekend. That's not easy, so I'm all the happier about pole position."

"I've been on pole a few times in my life, but it's always special here and I'm not getting any younger. It's a great moment and I'm proud to represent Porsche and the team in this position."

It's always a tough moment when you're in the car and you see the red flag and the car crashing and you know Laurence was in it. He's a very good friend and my team-mate for the year and I was very relieved when I saw that he was out. I'm very happy that he's okay."

Thomas Neubauer / #45 Ferrari 296 GT3

"It was the first top qualifying that I've driven. I really enjoyed being able to give everything without traffic. Now I'm hoping for a good race - and of course a good result for us."

"Second place in this top qualifying session means a lot to my team, especially as the teams and drivers, particularly in the top 20, are extremely strong. The start of the season was difficult, but everyone worked hard and did a really good job. It's a good example of what you can achieve when you give it your all."

"My lap wasn't perfect - but I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect lap. Even though second is the first loser, I'm very happy with the result as runner-up behind the legend Kevin Estre."

Maro Engel / #14 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed

"For us, it was all about optimising our package and getting through the day as smoothly as possible. To be honest, it was quite difficult to adapt to the conditions. The team did a great job and really improved the car so that we got closer. Nevertheless, the gap still remains. But we know that this is a long race in which pace is not the only deciding factor, but many other factors - such as traffic - play a major role. Third place is therefore a good starting position for us. We are in a position to drive a good race.

"The conditions will probably be even warmer tomorrow and on Sunday. That will make it much more strenuous in the cockpit, and the tyres will also react differently. When it's warmer, there's less grip and the tyres overheat more quickly. That makes everything a bit more difficult. Of course, these conditions are fantastic for the fans, but for us drivers and the entire team, it means that we have our hands full trying to get the best out of it."

"After the accident, the most important thing was that Laurens was okay - that was a violent crash in one of the fastest sections of the Nordschleife. In the end, it was probably the right decision to restart qualifying."

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