FIA GT – EL1: A delayed session? and eventful!

The first session of the Baku World Challenge, initially scheduled for 9:00 a.m., began with a delay of around four hours. As soon as the green light was given, the drivers rushed to discover this new 4,380 km route. On this slippery track which will certainly leave no room for error, it is the Pro-Am crew Simonsen/Afanasiev (Mercedes HTP Motorsport n°2) who distinguished himself with a time of 1:47.686, 15 thousandths better than the Audi R8 LMS n°13 of Sandström/Stippler, currently second in the general classification.

Third position went to McLaren of Hexis Racing, led this weekend by Rob Bell and Frenchman Kévin Estre, with a time of 1:47.792. Fourth, championship leaders Ortelli/Vanthoor did well (1:47.899) in their No. 11 Audi WRT. They are ahead of the No. 102 Corvette of the Keilwitz/Bleekemolen duo (1:48.079).

Sébastien Loeb and Alvaro Parente (No. 4 McLaren MP12-9C) finished tenth in 1:49.032 while 2012 Baku City Challenge winner Stef Dusseldorp placed fourteenth in the No. 15 Boutsen Ginion Racing McLaren.

This session, ultimately shortened to an hour, was marked by numerous straight-aheads at turn 8 – Parente, Khodair, Stippler – as well as a few minor touches? Winkelhock, Demoustier, Day, Mayr-Melnhof and Vervisch.

This session was interrupted by the red flag following the collision between the No. 102 Corvette of Daniel Keilwitz and the No. 13 Audi WRT driven by Edward Sandström at the final chicane. A regrettable misunderstanding between the two men who will force their teams to work hard to get the cars back in shape for the second free practice session, the start of which is scheduled for 14:50 p.m., i.e. 11:50 a.m. French time.

Results of the session:

1? S.Afanasiev/A.Simonsen Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 (HTP Motorsport) 1m47.686s
2? F.Stippler/E.Sandström Audi R8 LMS (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 1m47.701s
3? R.Bell/K.Estre McLaren MP4-12C (Hexis Racing) 1m47.792s
4? S.Ortelli/L.Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 1m47.899s
5? D.Keilwitz/J.Bleekemolen Corvette Z06 GT3 (Callaway) 1m48.079s
6? O.Webb/B.Hetherington Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 (Fortec Motorsport) 1m48.229s
7 ? N.Tandy/M.Holzer Porsche 997 GT3 R (Trackspeed) 1m48.445s
8? N.Mayr-Melnhof/R.Rast Audi R8 LMS (Belgian Audi Club Team WRT) 1m48.562s
9? P.Cunha/M.Stumpf Lamborghini LP560-4 (ACL by Rodrive) 1m48.722s
10? S.Loeb/A.Parente McLaren MP4-12C (Sebastien Loeb Racing) 1m49.032s