Schmid Leads Opening Red Bull Ring Practice

Clemens Schmid led the opening DTM Free Practice session at the Red Bull Ring for GRT Grasser Racing Team, heading an Austrian one-two in front of Thomas Preining.

Both Schmid and his team are contesting their respective home races at the Spielberg circuit this weekend, with the Austrian squad located just ten kilometers from the circuit.

The No. 85 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo headed the session with a best lap of 1:28.565, which he set to improve upon his own best effort earlier in the session.

He ended the session a mere 0.056 seconds clear of the No. 24 KÜS Team Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Thomas Preining.

Preining, who is wearing a tribute helmet for the late Walter Lechner this weekend, led the Audi duo of Kelvin van der Linde and Nico Mueller in third and fourth.

Mirko Bortolotto, fourth in the championship standings, rounded out the top five ahead of Ricardo Feller and Felipe Fraga.

Dennis Olsen took eighth, with Luca Stolz ninth and Lucas Auer rounding out the top ten less than half a second down on compatriot Schmid.

The 45-minute session was completed without any major incidents, with the only notable moment occurring when Dev Gore spun his No. 12 Team Rosberg Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II exiting turn one. He was able to carry on without further issues.

The second Free Practice session kicks off at 3:05 p.m. CEST (9:05 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Practice 1