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GT World Challenge Europe

Drudi Pips Vanthoor as Audis Lead Misano FP2

Attempto Racing’s Mattia Drudi sets the pace in close FP2 session at Misano…

Photo: Patrick Hecq/SRO

Mattia Drudi narrowly beat fellow Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo driver Dries Vanthoor to head second practice for GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Misano.

Drudi turned in a time of 1:32.189 behind the wheel of the No. 55 Attempto Racing Audi that the Italian shares with Tommaso Mosca, to beat Vanthoor in the No. 32 WRT car by just 0.047 seconds.

After Mercedes-AMG driver Raffaele Marciello set the pace in FP1, it was the turn of the Audi runners to lead the way in Friday’s second 80-minute practice session.

But the field was much closer together in the evening run as 13 cars fell within half a second of Drudi’s flyer, compared to the six that were as close to Marciello’s effort.

Third-quickest overall in FP2 was the Silver Cup-class Tech 1 Racing Lexus RC F GT3 of Thomas Neubauer, who was just 0.001 seconds shy of splitting the top Audis.

Arthur Rougier was fourth in the No. 25 Sainteloc Racing R8, while Maro Engel completed the top five for Haupt Racing Team as the best Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo driver.

Engel’s time of 1:32.314 was just enough to place the HRT Mercedes ahead of Jules Gounon in the No. 107 CMR Bentley Continental GT3 which came through in sixth.

Friday’s evening session was interrupted by a red flag period following an off-track moment for Ezequiel Companc in the Madpanda Motorsport Mercedes.

Green flag running resumed after a stoppage of around 15 minutes, while no further red flag incidents occurred after that.

Next up for the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup field is the 80-minute pre-qualifying session, taking place tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. CEST (3 a.m. EST).

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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