Maxi Götz and Jules Gounon’s Mercedes-AMG topped the times in a super close opening Free Practice session as the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup weekend got underway on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit this morning (Saturday).
The super quick pairing led the way by just 0.002s from the almost equally rapid Ferrari 266 GT3 of Ben Green and Konsta Lappalainen. The Emil Frey Racing Ferraris ran strongly throughout the opening hour of track action with Thierry Vermeulen and Giacomo Altoe’s car third quickest, lapping within a tenth of the pace setting Mercedes-AMG just like its sister car.
The opening session was twice interrupted by the red flag, the first of which was required after MotoGP icon, turned GT racer, Valentino Rossi ran off the circuit at Stirlings. After being recovered, Rossi was able to drive the car back to the pits with minimal damage with he and Maxime Martin ending up 15th overall.
The second red flag was caused by an off-track moment on the exit of Westfield for Thomas Fleming’s AF Corse Ferrari. Like Rossi, Fleming was able to return to the paddock under his own power and the car still ended the session in the top-ten.
Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts head into the weekend hoping to kickstart a Sprint Cup title charge after losing the title they secured three times previously in 2023. Fourth was a good showing in the lead Team WRT BMW, just over a tenth behind the session topping pace.
Tom Gamble and Benjamin Goethe rounded out the top-five in their Garage 59 McLaren.
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Sprint Cup, Free Practice 1, Brands Hatch
- Gotz/Gounon, Boutsen VDS, Merdedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 1m22.956s
- Green/Lappalainen, Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +0.002s
- Altoe/Vermeulen, Emil Frey Racing, Ferrari 296 GT3, +0.051s
- Vanthoor/Weerts, Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3, +0.150s
- Gamble/Goethe, Garage 59, McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, +0.183s
- Evrard/Magnus, Sainteloc Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO, +0.302s
- Engel/Auer, Winward Racing Team MANN FILTER, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +0.329s
- Aka/Feller, Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, +0.396s
- Haase/Ferrari, Tresor Attempto Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, +0.408s
- Fleming/Donno, AF Corse, Ferrari 296 GT3, +0.460s
Click here for full results from this race event.