GetSpeed Puts Mercedes-AMG Out Front in Portimao FP2

Photo: SRO/JEP

The GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG team led the field in Free Practice 2 ahead of the final GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup round at Portimao.

Fabian Schiller put in a flying lap of 1:42.988 towards the latter end of the session to top the timing screens in his No. 17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Schiller’s effort was enough to displace the Gold Cup Tresor Attempto Racing entry that had led the session from the beginning.

Alex Aka had set the fastest lap in the No. 99 Tresor Attempto Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, but was 0.096 seconds behind GetSpeed at the chequered flag.

HRT’s Ford Mustang GT3 EVOs both placed inside the top ten. The No. 65 Silver Cup-entered Ford completed the top three while its Pro class No. 64 machine finished the 90-minute session in seventh.

The No. 3 Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG claimed fourth place with a rapid lap from Chris Lulham.

Mikael Grenier secured fifth in the final minutes of the session in his No. 12 GetSpeed Team Dubai Mercedes-AMG.

Paradine Competition was the fastest BMW M4 GT3 EVO in sixth. Team owner Darren Leung is one of a handful of drivers to be pulling double driving duties this weekend between the GTWC Europe season finale at Portimao and the FIA World Endurance Championship round at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Chrisopher Haase slotted the No. 84 Eastalent Audi into eighth. The Audi stalwart also topped Free Practice 1 on Friday morning. 

Lionspeed GP’s Pro class No. 80 car was the quickest of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Evos in ninth with Thomas Preining at the wheel, ahead of the highest placed McLaren – the No. 23 Team RJN McLaren 720S GT3 Evo – in tenth.

Qualifying is up next with an evening session later today at 5:55 p.m. local time (12:55 p.m. ET).

RESULTS: Free Practice 2 

Finlay Ringer

Finlay Ringer is a freelance motorsport journalist covering the 24H Series for Sportscar365. He is also a journalism student at City St George's, University of London, and has contributed to publications such as The Race and Autocar.