Engel, Black Falcon Mercedes Fastest in FP2

Photo: Dirk Bogaerts/SRO

Maro Engel took his Black Falcon Mercedes-AMG GT3 to the top of the timesheets in the second and final Free Practice session for the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe at Zandvoort on Friday afternoon.

The Mercedes factory driver posted a best time of 1:45.230 late in the session to secure the top spot in wet conditions, with times around nine seconds slower than in Free Practice 1.

Several cars occupied the top spot at different stages in the 80-minute session, including the No. 62 R-Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Silver-rated Aaro Vainio.

Vainio’s car finished the session third, below Mirko Bortolotti’s Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo which was 0.161 seconds off Engel’s pace.

The third-placed R-Motorsport car was also the Silver Cup pace setter, beating Felipe Fraga’s No. 90 AKKA ASP Mercedes which had also been at the very top of the timing screen earlier in the session.

Another one of AKKA ASP’s Mercedes, the No. 87 car of Jim Pla and Mauro Ricci, led the way in the Pro-Am Cup from 15th overall, meanwhile.

The red flag was brought out early on after Fred Vervisch’s Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo got stranded in the gravel trap.

Qualifying is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EDT) on Saturday, ahead of Race 1 at 2:35 p.m. (8:35 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Free Practice 2

Jake Kilshaw

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