HTP Bentley Tops Friday Blancpain Sprint Practice at Portimao

The No. 84 Bentley Team HTP Continental GT3 of Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril posted the fastest time after Friday’s two 80-minute practice sessions for the Blancpain Sprint Series round at Portimao.

Fresh off a win at the Moscow Raceway, the German-French duo continued their strong form, their Bentley being the only car in the 1:44s with Abril behind the wheel.

After being quickest in Free Practice 1, Nick Catsburg’s Reiter Engineering Lamborghini R-EX swapped places with the blue Bentley in the afternoon, the Dutchman improving his time by a tenth, but still +0.231s off the Bentley.

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audis were within striking distance the entire day, the No. 1 Audi R8 LMS ultra of championship leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns ending FP2 in third (+0.271s), two tenths in front of their teammates in the No. 2 car.

Frijns caused a brief interruption when his car had to be recovered from a gravel trap.

Craig Dolby and Sean Walkinshaw showed promising pace with the fifth and sixth fastest times, the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 being run under the Always Evolving Motorsport banner, instead of JRM as previously indicated.

Action resumes tomorrow morning at 9:45 a.m. local time with Qualifying, followed by the Qualifying Race in the afternoon.

RESULTS: Free Practice 1
RESULTS: Free Practice 2