Practice is complete at the Autodrome, and – while other team garages were awash with activity as final niggles were eradicated – the Lamborghinis were on a roll.
Gulf Racing’s lead Gallardo – with Fabien Giroix and Frederic Fatien sharing the wheel – drew first blood for the event when their 2m 03.264s best laptime remained unbeaten during the morning session. Reiter Engineering swiftly followed suit by topping second free practice, lead driver Peter Kox – a former 24 hours of Le Mans class winner – impressing when he became the first driver to dip below the 2 minute mark with a 1m 59.716s. Rhino’s Leipert Motorsport’s Lamborghini Gallardo neatly bookended the top three, improving on their top five time recorded in first free practice.
The Saudi Falcons boys were hot on Gulf Racing’s tail this morning with both of the squad’s BMW Z4 GT3s slotting in less than a second behind the Lambo, last year’s race winners Edward Sandstrom and Claudia Hurtgen – along with local boys Abdulaziz Al Faisal and Faisal Binladen – just sneaking ahead of their green and yellow-suited brethren.
Gravity-Charouz Racing’s Mercedes SLS AMG produced a stonking lap in the closing minutes to finish the afternoon session second fastest, two places higher than they achieved in the morning. United Autosports’ Audi R8 bounced back from a steady morning practice to post a top five laptime, just shy of AF Corse SRL’s Ferrari 458 Italia in fourth.
Stand by for more action from the Dubai 24Hr on crankandpiston.com >>>
Shots by Pete West