With just one flying lap, Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite) posted the top time in qualifying for round three of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Five minutes into the session, rain set in and hampered the attempts of most drivers. Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing) set the second fastest time on the Silverstone Circuit. The race gets under way on Sunday (3 July 2022) at 12.05pm local time.

Larry ten Voorde has dominated the qualifying for round three of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Driving for Team GP Elite, the Dutchman appeared to be the only driver who expected that the pending rain would make more than one flying lap impossible. “I’ve never encountered such a situation in my entire Supercup career – I gave everything from the very first metre and I almost spun in a section that was already wet,” revealed the defending champion and series leader. At the wheel of his ca. 375 kW (510 PS) Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, ten Voorde turned the decisive lap a good half a second faster than Porsche Junior Laurin Heinrich from the SSR Huber Racing squad. “I wasted time on what turned out to be my only hot lap because I was still warming up my tyres. I only picked up my pace when I realised that Larry had already attacked. I’m satisfied with the second-fastest time, but I could’ve done better,” says the slightly annoyed 20-year-old Germany.

No home advantage for the Supercup drivers from the UK
Thirty-two drivers from 15 nations registered for round three of the international one-make cup. While the Silverstone race represented a home race for fifth-placed Harry King (BWT Lechner Racing), rookie Lorcan Hanafin (FACH AUTO TECH) and Porsche GB Junior driver Adam Smalley (CLRT), this does not automatically translate into a home advantage for the three UK drivers: King and Hanafin only know the 2.693-kilometre “Club” version of the tradition-steeped racetrack from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB – the Supercup, however, is contested on the 5.891-kilometre Formula 1 circuit. “About half of the racetrack was completely new for me,” explains the Supercup newcomer Hanafin. But the 19-year-old reigning vice-champion of the British Porsche Carrera Cup is obviously a fast learner: With a good performance, he finished the qualifying for the third Supercup round in eighth place.

In 2020, King took home the title of Porsche’s national one-make cup. In the current season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, he has won five out of six races so far. “Silverstone suits my driving style. I want to fight for victory on Sunday,” says the determined 21-year-old. His qualifying result underscores his plan: King set the third fastest time and thus takes up the race from the second grid row.

Adam Smalley also climbed into the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on the Grand Prix circuit in Silverstone for the first time in Friday’s practice session. “Luckily, it didn’t rain during the practice and I could quickly familiarise myself with the track,” states the 21-year-old, who receives support from Porsche GB. In qualifying, however, he was one of the drivers to be taken by surprise by the rain. Ultimately, Smalley had to settle for P17. Still, driving out of the pit lane for the first time was a very special moment for him: “I’ve never driven in front of so many fans.” On Sunday, up to 150,000 spectators are expected at the storied racetrack around 100 kilometres north of London.

Round three of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on TV and the Internet
The 14- lap race takes off on Sunday (3 July 2022) at 1:05 pm CEST. The streaming service f1tv.formula1.com airs the third Supercup race live.

Qualifying result, race 3 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Silverstone (UK)
1. Larry ten Voorde (NL/Team GP Elite), 2.06.908 minutes
2. Laurin Heinrich (D/SSR Huber Racing), + 0.503 seconds
3. Harry King (UK/BWT Lechner Racing), + 0.562 seconds
4. Rudy van Buren (NL/Huber Racing), + 1.388 seconds
5. Dylan Pereira (Luxemburg/BWT Lechner Racing), + 1.623 seconds
6. Max van Splunteren (NL/Team GP Elite), + 1.705 seconds