Aitken Sets Pace in First Monza Practice

Jack Aitken set the fastest time in opening practice for the 4 Hours of Monza, leading the way in the Pro-Am entered Racing Team Turkey car.

The one-time Grand Prix racer set an early fast lap behind the wheel of the TF Sport-operated No. 34 Oreca 07 Gibson to jump to the top, before later improving to a 1:38.690 to end the session fastest.

The top two positions overall were occupied by Pro-Am cars, as Nicklas Nielsen came in second behind the wheel of the No. 88 AF Corse Oreca, 0.291 seconds down on Aitken.

Job van Uitert completed the top three for Panis Racing, ahead of United Autosports and Cool Racing.

Prema ended the session just outside the top five in seventh position, trailing Algarve Pro Racing’s No. 47 Oreca but ahead of IDEC Sport and Team Virage.

The LMP3 category was led by the No. 4 DKR Engineering Duqueine D08 Nissan of Sebastian Alvarez. 

Alvarez surpassed Nico Pino’s No. 13 Inter Europol Competion Ligier JS P320 Nissan by setting a 1:44.476.

Pino, who had led the session up until that point, was dropped to second place while Finn Gehrsitz completed the top three aboard the No. 2 United Autosport Ligier.

RLR Sport’s No. 5 Ligier was fourth, with Nielsen Racing completing the top five.

Porsche led a one-two in GTE, topped by the No. 18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19 of Alessio Picariello.

The Belgian posted an early fast lap of 1:48.939, later improving to 1:48.851 to remain quickest.

Second place went to the No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche, which vaulted up behind Picariello thanks to a quick lap from Lorenzo Ferrari.

Ferrari’s 1:49.122 was quick enough to fend off compatriot Davide Rigon.

Rigon ended the session third aboard the No. 60 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.

Proton Competition’s second Porsche finished fourth, with Kessel Racing out the top five.

Track action at Monza continues with a Bronze test on Friday afternoon, before free practice 2 takes place Saturday at 9:00 a.m. CEST (3:00 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Practice 1