Matteo Cairoli in the Ferrari 296 GT3 came out on top in both practice sessions today on the short but challenging Zandvoort circuit. The bright sun was shining all day as DTM returned to the Dutch track for round two of the championship. Cairoli and Emil Frey Racing look like the team to beat this weekend.

Cairoli Sets the Early Pace in a Clean and Sunny FP1

Free Practice 1 started with Ben Dörr setting the fastest time in the McLaren 720S GT3, which was beaten by Preining just 25 minutes later in his Porsche 911 GT3 R. The session went on without any issues as temperatures were around 21 degrees Celsius outside.

In the end it was Matteo Cairoli who made the first statement of the day by finishing on top with a 1:34.289 in his Ferrari 296 GT3, driving for Emil Frey Racing.

Top 10 FP1

  1. M. Cairoli #14 – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3 – 1:34.289
  2. B. Dörr #25 – Dörr Motorsport – McLaren 720S GT3 (+0.232)
  3. T. Preining #91 – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R (+0.315)
  4. L. Auer #22 – Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.394)
  5. T. Vermeulen #69 – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3 (+0.406)
  6. J. Gounon #48 – Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.411)
  7. K. van der Linde #3 – Schubert Motorsport – BMW M4 GT3 (+0.421)
  8. M. Bortolotti – TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT – Lamborghini Temerario GT3 (+0.446)
  9. R. Feller #90 – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R (+0.463)
  10. M. Engel #80 – Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.473)

Cairoli Extends His Margin in a Chaotic FP2

Free Practice 2 had several interruptions, as the first red flag came out after 25 minutes because of oil on the track. Seventeen minutes later the red flag was out again, but it didn’t take long before the session continued, with once again the #14 Emil Frey Racing car ending the day on top with an even bigger margin to the second‑placed car.

Notable is Lamborghini’s strong outing in both sessions after a disappointing start to the season.

  1. M. Cairoli #14 – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3 – 1:33.803
  2. B. Dörr #25 – Dörr Motorsport – McLaren 720S GT3 (+0.357)
  3. T. Preining #91 – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R (+0.456)
  4. M. Bortolotti #19 – TGI Team Lamborghini by GRT – Lamborghini Temerario GT3 (+0.560)
  5. R. Feller #90 – Manthey Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R (+0.568)
  6. M. Engel #80- Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.609)
  7. L. Auer #22 – Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.640)
  8. T. Glock #16 – Dörr Motorsport – McLaren 720S GT3 (+0.647)
  9. T. Vermeulen #69 – Emil Frey Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3 (+0.703
  10. J. Gounon #48 – Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter – Mercedes-AMG GT3 (+0.800)

Saturday sees the cars hitting the track again at 09:45 CEST for Qualifying 1.

Race 1 will start at 13:30 local time.