GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS began its opening round at Circuit Paul Ricard with Free Practice, as Mercedes-AMG led both sessions.

Free Practice 1

Jules Gounon topped the first Free Practice session for the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing with a best lap of 1:54.690, placing the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO at the top of the timesheets. Christopher Haase secured second place for the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, just 0.064 seconds behind, while the #9 Pure Rxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO completed the top three.

The #914 Razoon – more than racing Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO finished fourth as the highest-placed Bronze entry, followed by Kelvin van der Linde in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO for Team WRT in fifth. Nicki Thiim in the #7 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO placed sixth, ahead of Maxime Martin in the #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed in seventh.

Adam Smalley and Dylan Pereira put the #4 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 EVO and the #99 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II in eighth and ninth respectively, while Lucas Auer completed the top ten for Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER

Free Practice 2

Fabian Schiller went fastest in the second Free Practice session, setting a 1:54.624 to put the #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO on top.

Benjamin Paque secured second place in the #914 Razoon – more than racing Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO with a 1:54.840, just 0.216 seconds off the pace, while Riccardo Pera placed third for Rutronik Racing in another Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO — notably, both entries compete in the Bronze Cup category, underlining an impressive overall pace against Pro competition.

Thomas Preining put the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO in fourth, ahead of Tommaso Mosca in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO in fifth, with both teams showing improved pace compared to the earlier session.

Aurélien Panis placed sixth in the #6 GetSpeed Team BartoneBros Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, followed by Kobe Pauwels in the #21 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO in seventh. Benjamin Goethe finished eighth for Garage 59 in the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO, while Simon Gachet placed ninth for CSA Racing in another McLaren. Rounding out the top ten, Marvin Dienst secured tenth in the #87 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

The session was interrupted multiple times by incidents, bringing out three separate stoppages. The first came after the #18 Comtoyou Racing Aston Martin, driven by Lance Stroll, came to a halt before Turn 1. Shortly after the restart, the #32 Team WRT BMW was forced to stop on track with reported smoke coming from the front of the car, causing another interruption. In the closing minutes, the session was neutralised for a final time when the #89 Lionspeed GP Porsche hit the barriers in the first sector.

With Free Practice completed, the focus now shifts to Saturday, where Qualifying will determine the grid ahead of the race later in the day at Circuit Paul Ricard

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