> Six #IntGTC manufacturers in the top-11
> Result: Free Practice
Porsche and KÜS Team 75 Bernhard began their 2019 Total 24 Hours of Spa assault in ideal fashion by topping the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli and overall times in opening practice where six different #IntGTC manufacturers finished in the overall top-11.
The #117 911 GT3 R driven by Laurens Vanthoor recorded a best lap of 2m20.098s during the final 10 minutes to secure early bragging rights. The 2014 race winner shares the car with Earl Bamber and team boss Timo Bernhard who collectively form one-quarter of Stuttgart’s four #IntGTC entries this weekend.
Two Aston Martins and a non-IntGTC Porsche were next up before the first of Mercedes-AMG’s full-season contenders: Black Falcon. Yelmer Buurman finished 0.4s shy of Vanthoor’s benchmark and another half-second clear of Bentley Team M-Sport’s Alex Buncombe in the best of the Continentals.
SMP Racing’s Ferrari was just 0.015s further back courtesy of Davide Rigon, while Audi Sport Team WRT’s Nico Muller put the German manufacturer’s DTM-flavoured R8 ninth.
Honda also featured in the top-11 thanks to Philipp Frommenwiler whose Jenson Team Rocket RJN NSX also finished second in the Silver Cup class.
The day’s second session - Pre-Qualifying - starts at 16:15. Watch it live on IntercontinentalGTChallenge.com.