Akkodis ASP Team’s #87 Mercedes-AMG GT2 came out on top of the first Fanatec GT2 European Series Free Practice session at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, this morning after a rain-delayed start to the penultimate round of the season.
With the region hit by heavy rain and thunder storms, the first official track session of the weekend finally got underway 45-minutes later than planned. Although rain continued to fall, the teams and drivers were able to undertake the full hour of track time to get a feel for the rain-soaked Spanish circuit.
Joining the Pro-Am class for the first time this weekend, Jean Luc Beaubelique and Ludovic Badey topped the timing screens with a best lap time of 1:45.055 aboard the #87 Mercedes-AMG GT2.
After a flurry of quicker times posted towards the end of the 60-minute session, the True Racing KTM of Stefan Rosina and Nicolas Saelens came closest to the class newcomers with a time 0.492s shy of the top spot.
PK Carsport clocked in as the quickest Audi in third position, just 0.028s adrift of the #15 KTM after Stienes Longin and Peter Guelinckx topped the timing screens earlier in the session.
Despite a spin which caused a brief red-flag stoppage, the sister Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG of Benjamin and Mauro Ricci finished fourth, ahead of the #88 LP Racing Audi of Mattis di Giusto and Stéphane Ratel.
MZR got their first Fanatec GT2 race weekend off to a strong start with Reinhard Kofler and Martin Koch completing the top six ahead of Hubert Trunkenpolz and MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa, who also makes his series debut in Spain.
In the Am class, Leonardo Gorini led the way with a series of blistering lap times placing the Ebimotors Porsche as high as second overall. Current class championship leader, Jan Krabec brought the RTR Projects KTM home second fastest ahead of Mantas Janacicius and Aurelijus Rusteika in the second Ebimotors Porsche.
The second Free Practice session of the day will now take place at 14:15.