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Two times pole position for René Rast

On the Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest double the action is lined up for this weekend in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. On Saturday, the replacement race for the cancelled Barcelona round will be contested, with the eighth race of the world's fastest international series taking off on Sunday. For both races, points' leader René Rast (Germany) conquered the best starting position. Turning the quickest qualifying time at the wheel of Lechner Racing's 450 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which is based on the street legal lightweight 911 GT3 RS sports car, he secured pole position for the race on Sunday. His second quickest time was enough to clinch the top grid spot for Saturday's race. Thanks to the four extra points that he pocketed for the two top times, the German extended his championship lead to 27 points.

Taking up the sprint from the first row alongside the title defender on Sunday is Britain's Sean Edwards (Konrad Motorsport). The Monaco winner is one of Rast's strongest rivals in the bid for the title. In the turbulent qualifying session, in which all outcomes were only decided at the eleventh hour, Edwards only managed to set one outstanding time. His second fastest lap was only enough to secure him a spot on the third row for Saturday's race. Norbert Siedler's qualifying ran even worse. The VELTINS Lechner Racing pilot from Austria, who shares the same championship points tally as Sean Edwards in second place, takes up Sunday's race from eighth and Saturday's meeting from the sixth grid position.

Nicki Thiim, however, secured himself good starting positions for both races. Competing for Hermes Attempto Racing, the Supercup newcomer from Denmark heads into both rounds from the second grid row. His French teammate Kévin Estre takes off into Saturday's race from the first grid row alongside René Rast, but only secured the sixth quickest time for Sunday.

René Rast (pole-sitter for both races): "That was a perfect qualifying. Two times pole position - I'm ecstatic. My car was brilliant over the entire day. A huge thank you to my team."

Sean Edwards (5th and 2nd in qualifying): "I have no idea how René does it. I was at the limit during my fastest lap - and still I'm fourth-tenths of a second off him. I've got nothing to lose now in the race. I'm going to go full attack right from the first corner."

Christian Engelhart (7th and 3rd in qualifying): "I'm actually very pleased. It was not easy today because the track kept getting faster. On my final quick lap I was running very well in the last sector but then I went onto the grass in the chicane and had to abort my lap."

Nicki Thiim (3rd and 4th in qualifying): "That was a great qualifying. It went better for me than in free practice. I found a good line and finally it all came together perfectly."

Kévin Estre (2nd and 6th in qualifying): "That was anything but perfect. I made small errors in every lap. Now I just have to try to make the best of it in the race and earn points so that I can move up in the championship."

Norbert Siedler (6th and 8th in qualifying): "Well, it could certainly have been better. Don't ask me how René achieves such times. Perhaps we can make up for it in the races but that'll be very tricky. They are all running very close at the front."

Grid line up for Saturday's race
1. René Rast (D), Lechner Racing Team
2. Kévin Estre (F) Hermes Attempto Racing
3. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing
4. Michael Ammermüller (D), VELTINS Lechner Racing
5. Sean Edwards (GB), Konrad Motorsport
6. Norbert Siedler (A), VELTINS Lechner Racing

Grid line up for Sunday's race
1. René Rast (D), Lechner Racing Team
2. Sean Edwards (GB), Konrad Motorsport
3. Christian Engelhart (D), Konrad Motorsport
4. Nicki Thiim (DK), Hermes Attempto Racing
5. Kuba Giermaziak (PL), VERVA Racing Team
6. Kévin Estre (F) Hermes Attempto Racing

The race on Saturday will be broadcast live by TV station Sky from 12.20 hours, with Eurosport airing the event at the later time of 13.30 hours. Sunday's race is televised live by Sky (11.40 hours) and Eurosport 2 (11.45 hours).