Bortolotti, WRT Audi Top First Free Practice

Photo: Creventic

Mirko Bortolotti took WRT to the top of the timesheets in the first Free Practice session for the Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai on Thursday morning. 

Audi’s new factory driver signing posted a best time of 1:58.386 in the No. 31 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo before handing over to teammate Rolf Ineichen for the remainder of the 90-minute session. 

Four manufacturers were represented in the top four positions, with a Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 followed by a Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo and Dinamic Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. 

The top seven cars were split by less than nine-tenths, while Black Falcon’s second-placed Mercedes was 0.260 seconds off Bortolotti’s pace.

Christopher Zoechling set the best lap time of the GT3 Am class in Dinamic’s No. 29 Porsche, fourth overall.

The best-placed GT4 car was a BMW M4 GT4 entered by Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, while KCMG’s Honda Civic FK7 TCR was the quickest touring car. 

The session ran almost uninterrupted with no major incidents and just one brief Code 60 called for practice purposes. 

Qualifying will take place at 3:05 p.m. local time (6:05 a.m. ET / 11:05 a.m. GMT), ahead of Night Practice this evening. Unlike last year, there will be no additional Free Practice session prior to Qualifying. 

RESULTS: Free Practice

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.