Gounon Sets Pace in Barcelona Free Practice

Team GetSpeed driver Jules Gounon went fastest in opening Free Practice for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup title decider at Barcelona.

Gounon improved on his previous benchmark in the No. 17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to top the times in the two-hour session with a 1:40.793 lap.

It continued a strong start to the weekend for the GetSpeed line-up completed by Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz, who set the fastest time in Thursday’s unofficial pre-event test.

No other driver managed to dip underneath the 1:41.00 barrier, although Augusto Farfus went closest. His best effort was 0.265 seconds adrift in the No. 98 ROWE Racing BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

The Brazilian was just 0.019 seconds quicker than the early pace-setter, Patric Niederhauser in the No. 96 Rutronik Porsche 911 GT3 R that enters the weekend five points shy of the Endurance Cup championship lead.

A late improvement from Alex Buncombe boosted the RJN McLaren 720S GT3 Evo up to fourth as the fastest Gold Cup entrant, usurping Alessio Rovera’s No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3.

Louis Prette was the second-quickest Gold Cup driver in Garage 59’s McLaren to take sixth overall, ahead of Matteo Cairoli’s Pro class championship-leading Team MANN FILTER Mercedes-AMG.

Despite causing a 15-minute red flag when he crashed at the Turn 3 right-hander, Patrick Kolb remained the fastest Bronze Cup runner and ended the session eighth overall in his Lionspeed GP Porsche. The car was recovered to the pits and later turned laps with co-drivers Ricardo Feller and Gabriel Rindone.

Kolb was almost dislodged in the closing minutes for Bronze Cup bragging rights by Sean Gelael, who ended up 0.11 seconds behind in his No. 991 Paradine Competition BMW.

The fastest Silver Cup runner, Loris Cabirou in the Boutsen VDS Mercedes, completed the top 10.

Pre-Qualifying for the 3 Hours of Barcelona is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. CEST (8:35 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Free Practice