Stolz Leads Mercedes 1-2 in Friday Afternoon Practice

Luca Stolz went three-tenths of a second clear at the top of the times to lead a Mercedes-AMG one-two result in Free Practice 2 for the DTM finale at Hockenheim.

The Haupt Racing Team driver clocked a time of 1:37.374 with five minutes left in the 45-minute session to leapfrog Mirko Bortolotti, who held first place for most of the run.

Stolz was then joined in the top two by Winward Racing’s Lucas Auer, who produced a 1:37.694 in the closing stages to leave Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini driver Bortolotti in third on his earlier 1:37.703 number.

Bortolotti, who is one of the 10 championship contenders heading into the final weekend of the season, took the same position in both practice sessions on Friday.

FP2 pacesetter Stolz, meanwhile, has an outside chance of capturing the title with the German sitting 28 points behind series leader Sheldon van der Linde.

Schubert Motorsport BMW driver Van der Linde registered the fifth-fastest lap time in the second practice session after only managing to 18th-quickest in the morning.

Bortolotti and van der Linde were separated by Maro Engel in the No. 88 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing machine.

Dennis Olsen and Christian Engelhart took sixth and seventh in their SSR Performance Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.

Qualifying for the penultimate race of the DTM season is due to start at 10:05 a.m. CEST (4:05 a.m. ET) on Saturday morning.

RESULTS: Free Practice 2