In 2021 and 2022, Larry ten Voorde was already unbeatable in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup races in Monte-Carlo. The Dutchman from the GP Elite team will also start from pole position in the 2023 season opener on Sunday. In qualifying on the Formula 1 circuit on the streets of the Principality, he was fastest again. Positions two and three were secured by the two BWT Lechner Racing drivers, Harry King from Great Britain and Porsche Junior Bastian Buus from Denmark.

Less than a second separated the ten fastest in qualifying for the season opener of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in Monte-Carlo. The first two starting rows went to the teams GP Elite and BWT Lechner Racing. Pole position for Sunday's race went to GP Elite driver Larry ten Voorde, who had previously set the best time in practice. The Dutchman shares the front row with Britain's Harry King, who lapped the 3.337-kilometre Formula 1 circuit around two tenths of a second slower. Third fastest was King's teammate at BWT Lechner Racing, 19-year-old Porsche Junior Bastian Buus from Denmark. Fourth place on the grid went to Loek Hartog, who also competes for the GP Elite team.

"I think it could have been even faster towards the end," analyzed Larry ten Voorde, who set the best time at the beginning of qualifying on his first set of tyres. "But on the laps with the second set of tires I made too many mistakes." Harry King had a similar view. “The track definitely got faster towards the end of qualifying. Unfortunately, I had to end my last attempt on Larry's best time prematurely because of a red flag," summarized the Briton. In fact, qualifying was interrupted twice due to minor accidents, which almost always lead to track blockages on the comparatively narrow track in the urban canyons of Monte Carlo.

Bad luck and luck every minute marked the course of qualifying for Porsche Junior Bastian Buus. “I was on a fast lap with my second set of tires, which I had to stop because of the first red flag. After that, however, I was the only one in the leading group who was able to complete a lap without hindrance before the second interruption. That was my fastest lap, so I can't complain," he said, describing his way to grid position three. Buus is on the starting grid on the second row next to Dutchman Loek Hartog.

The fastest rookie in qualifying was also a driver from the GP Elite team: Huub van Eijndhoven from the Netherlands, being the eighth fastest, just relegated another Supercup newcomer to ninth place, the Italian Giorgio Amati from the Dinamic Motorsport team.

Former motorcycle world champion Jorge Lorenzo: Video game as preparation
As a five-time motorcycle world champion, Jorge Lorenzo also knows many Formula 1 racetracks from the driver's perspective. However, the road circuit in Monte Carlo is completely new territory for the 36-year-old Spaniard, who drives with an Italian racing license. After a season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia, Lorenzo is contesting his first race as a regular participant in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup for the German team Huber Racing on Sunday.

“I prepared with video games and in the simulator. So basically I know where to go,” joked Lorenzo, who drove the VIP 911 at the Supercup race in Imola, Italy last year. “But of course it's still something completely different to drive a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on this unique racetrack. I have to admit: It's harder than I expected. The smallest mistake and you end up in the crash barrier. Nevertheless, it is a great feeling to experience this incomparably dense atmosphere and the fans in the fully occupied stands."

Lorenzo starts the first race of the season of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup from position 24. “I improved by around two seconds in qualifying compared to practice, which is positive. However, I am still further away from the fastest than I would like,” he admitted. "My goal for the race: To make ends meet better than 20th place."

The season opener of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup on TV and on the Internet
The opening race of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup takes place on Sunday (May 28, 2023) from 11:55 a.m clock CEST over 17 rounds. In German-speaking countries, the TV channels Eurosport and Sky Sport will show the race live. The streaming service f1tv.formula1.com also broadcasts.

Qualifying result, 1st round Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
1. Larry ten Voorde (Netherlands/Team GP Elite), 1:33.573 minutes
2. Harry King (Great Britain/BWT Lechner Racing), +0.190 seconds
3. Porsche Junior Bastian Buus (Denmark/BWT Lechner Racing), +0.254 seconds
4. Loek Hartog (Netherlands/Team GP Elite), +0.273s
5. Dorian Boccolacci (France/CLRT), +0.362s

Full qualifying result:
https://motorsports.porsche.com/international/en/category/mobil1supercup /pmsc-2023-results