Race Performance Quickest in First Practice at Red Bull Ring

Race Performance led Saturday morning’s 90-minute opening practice session for round three of the European Le Mans Series, the Four Hours of Red Bull Ring.

The No. 34 Oreca 03 Judd of Franck Mailleux and Michel Frey went around the Austrian circuit in 1:24.163, over three tenths faster than the No. 43 Newblood by Morand Racing Morgan Judd of Pierre Ragues, Christian Klien and Gary Hirsch.

Le Mans winners Jota Sport were third on the time sheets, followed by the Signatech Alpine team in fourth place.

In LM GTE the No. 72 SMP Racing Ferrari 458 Italia of Andrea Bertolini, Viktor Shaitar and Sergey Zlobin was quickest with a 1:30.050 lap.

The No. 58 Team Sofrev ASP Ferrari and the No. 85 Gulf Racing UK Aston Martin Vantage were second and third, separated by just two thousandths. Both cars were, however, six tenths behind the SMP Ferrari.

ART Grand Prix topped the time charts in GTC, with the No. 98 McLaren MP4-12C GT3 outpacing three SMP Racing Ferrari’s and an AF Corse Ferrari.

Today’s second and final practice sessions gets underway at 3:00 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: Practice 1