Grasser Lamborghini Ends Friday on Top at Paul Ricard

GRT Grasser Racing Team set the pace in Friday’s Blancpain Endurance Series Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying sessions.

Mirko Bortolotti, driving the No. 63 Lamborghini Hurácan GT3, was the fastest driver in both sessions. The Italian set his fastest lap of 1:57.708 in the Pre-Qualifying session this afternoon.

In Free Practice it was Dutch driver Renger van der Zande’s No. 34 Car Collection Motorsport Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 that had been on top for most of the session, but in the end his time was beaten, with Bortolotti setting the fastest time.

The Pre-Qualifying session, which Bortolotti was fastest again, was halted twice. The first stoppage came as a result of debris on track, while the second red flag came out after Garry Kondakov crashed the No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 into the tyre barriers. The crash caused heavy rear-end damage to his Ferrari.

Rinaldi Racing’s No. 333 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 was second fastest as the checkered flag came out for the last time on Friday, with the No. 84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3 taking third place.

The first 21 cars, almost a third of the grid, was separated by just over a second in Pre-Qualifying. The fastest of the two new Audi R8 LMS entered this weekend was eighth fastest, the best McLaren 650S GT3 down in 26th place.

Track action at Paul Ricard resumes tomorrow with Qualifying at 10:05 a.m. local time and the 1000 km race will start at 5.00 p.m.

RESULTS: Free Practice
RESULTS: Pre-Qualifying