Gounon Fastest in Abu Dhabi FP1

Jules Gounon set the pace for Grove Racing by GetSpeed in the opening Free Practice session for the Gulf 12 Hours.

The Andorran racer posted a 1:52.770 in the opening 30 minutes of the session to go quickest aboard the No. 4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Gounon’s effort was 0.656 seconds faster than Simon Birch aboard the No. 14 Razoon – More than Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, which led the Pro-Am class in the process.

Frederik Schandorff slotted into third aboard the No. 70 Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, 0,053 seconds clear of the No. 81 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG in the hands of Gabriele Piana.

Aaron Telitz rounded out the overall top five at the wheel of the No. 69 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, followed by the second Winward Mercedes-AMG driven by factory ace Maro Engel.

Nico Bastian picked up seventh for TFRT Racing, ahead of the No. 7 Herberth Motorsport Porsche and No. 2 Into Africa Racing by HAAS RT Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

The top ten was completed by the No. 77 Al Manar Racing by Dragon Ferrari piloted by Al Faisal Al Zubair.

Garage 59’s No. 8 McLaren topped the GT3-Am class in 17th overall.

The second Free Practice session at the Yas Marina Circuit is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. GST (3:20 a.m. ET).

RESULTS: Free Practice 1