Engel Quickest in Zandvoort Opening Practice

Maro Engel set the pace in the opening Free Practice session for DTM’s return to Zandvoort as the Dutch venue hosts the championship for the first time since 2018.

The German driver steered the No. 48 Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to a best lap of 1:34.049.

Engel posted his fastest lap with just four minutes remaining in the opening 45-minute session, vaulting to the top and outpacing Thomas Preining by 0.106 seconds.

Preining’s No. 91 Manthey EMA Porsche 911 GT3 R remained ahead of KÜS Team Bernhard’s Laurin Heinrich and teammate Dennis Olsen as Porsche runners made up the majority of the top five.

Kelvin van der Linde came fifth aboard the No. 3 ABT Sportsline Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, leading Patric Niederhauser and the No. 11 Team Project 1 BMW M4 GT3 of Marco Wittmann.

The top ten was competed by Jusuf Owega, Luca Stolz and the No. 9 Toksport WRT Porsche driven by championship leader Tim Heinemann.

The session came to a premature end when Franck Perera spun his No. 94 SSR Performance Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 into the gravel at Scheivlak, triggering a red flag with under two minutes remaining.

The second Free Practice session kicks off at 4 p.m. CEST (10 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1