Coach McKansy (#17 HP Racing International Lamborghini Huracan GT3), who’s in a battle for second place in the championship, topped the Blancpain GT Sports Club practice session in Barcelona, as Klaus Dieter Frers (#3 Artega Rennsport Ferrari 488 GT3) edged ahead of Stephen Earle (#111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) in the Iron Cup class.
After the first 20 minutes, Herberth Motorsport’s Edward Lewis Brauner in the #991 Porsche 991 GT3 R led the way at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. However, a flurry of laps from the chasing pack saw Coach McKansy establish himself at the top of the timesheet.
Luigi Lucchini jumped to second, before Patrick Van Glabeke snatched it away from him in the final five minutes. Edward Lewis Brauner only dropped to fourth ahead of the 2018 Blancpain GT Sports Club champion Karim Ojjeh (#2 Boutsen Ginion BMW M6 GT3).
Behind them, debutant Vadim Kogay (#333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) showed promising potential, with his late lap good enough for sixth. This demoted Jürgen Häring (#66 Porsche 991 GT3 R) to seventh, but Herberth Motorsport will be happy to have both of their cars comfortably inside the top 10.
Mario Cordoni (#70 AF Corse) damaged his Ferrari 488 GT3 early in the session after showing strong pace, but was still classified in eighth, with Iron Cup’s Klaus Dieter Frers and Angélique Detavernier (#55 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3) rounding out the top 10.
In the Iron Cup battle, Stephen Earle quickly adapted to the 4.655 km circuit and led for much of the session, but Klaus Dieter Frers improved late on to edge ahead by less than three-tenths. Louis-Philippe Soenen (#50 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3), who isn’t in contention for the title was third in class.
Pacesetter Coach McKansy is also part of the Titanium Cup, with Karim Ojjeh and Vadim Kogay second and third in the class for drivers aged 50-59.
Next is qualifying at 13:50 (local time), which you can follow through the live timings on our website. The Qualifying Race will get underway at 15:30 and that will be livestreamed on YouTube, as well as our website and Facebook page.