Engel Fastest in Brands Hatch Practice

Photo: JEP/SRO

Maro Engel set the fastest time in Free Practice to kick off his and Lucas Auer’s GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup title defense ahead of the opening round of the season at Brands Hatch.

The German steered the No. 48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to a best lap of 1:23.145 to lead the first of three on-track session as part of an intense, two-day schedule at the British circuit.

Thierry Vermeulen was second aboard the No. 69 Emil Frey Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, 0.033 seconds slower but leading Gold Cup, while a pair of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s took third and fourth in the hands of Barwell Motorsport driver Sandy Mitchell and GRT Grasser Racing Team’s Jordan Pepper.

Charles Weerts rounded out the top five aboard the No. 32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Adam Smalley picked up sixth aboard the No. 58 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, ahead of the Silver Cup-leading No. 99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS Gt3 Evo II in the hands of Ezequiel Perez Companc.

The Argentinean’s co-driver Alex Aka set the benchmark time during the opening 30 minutes of the session, which was exclusively reserved for Silver-rated drivers, but the car eventually filtered down to seventh as times improved when the full Pro field joined proceedings.

Patric Niederhauser broke into the top ten with a late flyer to put the No. 96 Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R eighth on the timesheets, with Gilles Magnus and Cesar Gazeau completing the top ten for Sainteloc Racing and Boutsen VDS, respectively.

The 60-minute session was interrupted by a single red flag after 39 minutes when Kobe Pauwels found the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend aboard the No. 21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.

Lorens Lecertua also struck the wall at Westfield in the No. 26 Sainteloc Racing Audi with three minutes remaining, but was able to return to the pits without needing assistance.

The opening practice session was one of three to be completed on Saturday, with track action set to continue with Pre-Qualifying at 12:15 BST (7:15 EST), followed by qualifying later in the day.

RESULTS: Free Practice