> Result: FP2
Raffaele Marciello ensured GruppeM Racing and Mercedes-AMG maintained its 100% record at this year’s Suzuka 10 Hour by once again setting fastest time in second free practice this evening.
The bright yellow AMG had already posted fastest times in Paid Practice and FP1, and continued its dominant run under the cover of darkness and storm clouds.
Indeed, Marciello’s best of 2m12.954s – set just before heaviest rain hit with 35 minutes remaining – was fractionally faster than co-driver Maro Engel posted in FP1 and 0.277s quicker than Matt Campbell whose Absolute Porsche held top spot for much of the session courtesy of Dirk Werner.
HubAuto Corsa’s Ferrari was another 1.4s further back in third, Nick Cassidy leading a quartet featuring SunEnergy1, Craft-Bamboo and WRT (Audi) that was covered by 0.3s.
KCMG’s Nissan and Schnitzer’s BMW completed the top-eight, while two more manufacturers – Honda and Lamborghini – ensured seven different marques filled the first 10 positions.
One further practice sessions takes place at 09:15 tomorrow before three 15-minute qualifying segments decide the top-20 cars that will contest the evening’s Pole Shootout.
Watch qualifying and Pole Shootout live in the company of Sam Collins, Sonia Ito and four-time Super GT champion Ronnie Quintarelli right here on the championship’s website, Intercontinental GT Challenge’s Facebook page and SRO’s GT World Youtube channel. Saturday’s livestream is available unrestricted around the world.