Reports

Hexis Racing quickest in first FIA GT3 practice

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

The Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9 of Jean-Claude Lagniez and Frédéric Makowiecki was the quickest of 42 cars in the opening practice session here at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. The two French drivers rounded the track in 1:32.214.

As the GT3 teams started their work in the paddock the rain was still coming down, but as the session started at 10:45 the rain had stopped, the track was getting dry and the teams hardly had any problems with the track.

The session was briefly interrupted by a red flag when one of the S-Berg Racing Team cars went wide, but as soon as the car had returned to the pit the light went green again. Several other cars hit trouble as well, with the number 31 AutoGt Racing Morgan Aero 8 coming to a halt on the grass just. Its sister car, the number 30, suffered a blown rear tyre. The number 39 Mühlner Motorsport Porsche and number 10 Hexis Racing Aston both had a scary moment as they spun in the Shell Esses while the number 32 APEX Motorsport Jaguar went through the gravel trap at the exact same spot.

Towards the end of the session the Tech9 Motorsport Lamborghini suddenly slowed down on the track. At that moment the Martin Rich and Andrew Thompson driven Team Berlanga Ascari KZ1R was still fastest but eventually it was the Hexis Racing Aston Martin that managed to beat the Ascari’s time, by 0.159s. Sascha Bert and Alois Meir were third fastest, just under two tenths of a second behind the Aston.

Top three + fastest per car class:
1 - 10 Hexis Racing - Aston Martin DBRS9 - Lagniez/Makowiecki - 1:32.214
2 - 26 Team Berlanga - Ascari KZR1 GT3 - Rich/Thompson - 1:32.373
3 - 2 Martini Callaway Racing - Corvette Z06R GT3 - 1:32.484
5 - 47 Tech 9 Motorsport - Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 - 1:32.736
6 - 41 La Torre Motorsport - Dodge Viper Competition Coupe - 1:32.742
7 - 20 Matech GT Racing - Ford GT - 1:32.802
14 - 11 JMB Racing - Ferrari 430 GT3 - 1:33.805
16 - 36 Prospeed Competition - Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S - 1:34.622
23 - 32 APEX Motorsport - Jaguar XKR - 1:34.846
24 - 29 AutoGt Racing - Morgan Aero 8 GT3 - 1:35.307
31 - 22 Matech Mustang Racing - Ford Mustang FR500 GT - 1:35.905