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Intercontinental GT Challenge

Buhk, GruppeM Mercedes-AMG Quickest on Friday at Bathurst

Maxi Buhk leads way in opening day of practice for Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour…

Photo: John Dagys

GruppeM Racing ended the opening day of practice for the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour on top, with Maxi Buhk leading the way Friday at Mt. Panorama.

The German reeled off a 2:03.588 lap in the No. 999 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the day’s fourth and final practice session to go quickest of the day.

Buhk edged out the No. 22 Team Vavoline Audi R8 LMS of Kelvin van der Linde by 0.419 seconds, thanks to a late improvement in the 60-minute session by the South African.

Martin Tomczyk made it three different German manufacturers in the top-three, putting his No. 42 Team Schnitzer BMW M6 GT3 third on the overall time sheets in Practice 4.

The No. 27 HubAuto Corsa Ferrari 488 GT3 was fourth quickest, with the No. 77 Team Craft Bamboo Black Falcon Mercedes GT3 completing the top-five.

Quickest of the GT3 Pro-Am class entries was the No. 777 The Bend Motorsport Park Mercedes GT3 in 9th overall, two positions ahead of the No. 12 Competition Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R of Kevin Estre.

Unlike the sessions earlier today, there were no major incidents in Practice 4, with only a single red for a stranded car in the gravel.

A final one-hour practice session is on tap for Saturday at 8:35 a.m. local time, followed by qualifying and the Top 10 Shootout.

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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