Late Engel Flyer Puts GetSpeed on Top in Free Practice

Maro Engel produced a late improvement to set the fastest lap in Free Practice for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup round at Paul Ricard.

The Mercedes-AMG Team Al Manar driver posted a time of 1:54.965 behind the wheel of the GetSpeed-run No. 777 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo to leapfrog Akkodis ASP’s Raffaele Marciello by 0.017 seconds.

Rutronik Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R ended up third-quickest courtesy of a 1:55.319 from Laurin Heinrich, as the leading Mercedes-AMG duo stood three-tenths of a second clear.

Mattia Drudi was fourth for Audi squad Tresor Orange 1, which arrived at Paul Ricard off the back of a victory in the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup season-opener.

Klaus Bachler completed the overall top five in the Bronze Cup-leading Porsche from Pure Rxcing.

Simon Gachet and Maximilian Goetz joined Engel in setting their cars’ best laps at the end of the 90-minute outing, putting the No. 25 Sainteloc Junior Team Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II in sixth and the No. 87 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG in seventh.

The highest-placed non-German car was the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo from Optimum Motorsport, in which Dean MacDonald reeled off a 1:55.607 to lead the Gold Cup category and go eighth-quickest overall.

Friday afternoon’s session ran without major incident despite part of it featuring damp conditions after thunderstorms reached Paul Ricard earlier in the day.

RESULTS: Free Practice