Engel Leads Rain-Affected FP2 at Brands Hatch

Photo: Patrick Hecq/SRO

Maro Engel set the pace in a rain-affected second and final Free Practice session for the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe at Brands Hatch.

Driving the Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3, the German set a best time of 1:22.930 midway through the session when the track dried out between rain showers.

The first 20 minutes were run in damp conditions following a shower at the start of the session at 12:30 p.m. local time, while the rain returned towards the end.

A red flag caused by a crash for Ezequiel Perez Companc prematurely ended the session a little over five minutes before it was scheduled to finish.

Companc went off track after Clearways at the final corner, sending his No. 1 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT-run R8 LMS GT3 Evo into the tire barriers. 

The Argentinian driver shares the car with Dries Vanthoor. 

Engel’s best lap time was good enough to put him almost half a second clear of Christopher Mies and Charles Weerts in another on WRT’s Audis, while Grasser Racing Team completed the top three.

The changing weather conditions prevented teams from setting many competitive lap times, with only a short window in the middle of the session allowing from almost-dry running.

Attempto Racing led the Silver Cup with its No. 56 Audi driven by Milan Dontje and Mattia Drudi, while Louis Machiels and Andrea Bertolini led the way in Pro-Am.

Qualifying is set to get underway at 3:55 p.m. with a 20 percent chance of rainfall.

RESULTS: Free Practice 2

Jake Kilshaw

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