GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup: Valencia Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying Summary
Valencia, Spain – In the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup finale at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Dennis Marschall of Kessel Racing set the pace during Free Practice and continued his dominance in Pre-Qualifying.
Free Practice Highlights
Marschall, driving the #74 Ferrari 296 GT3, clocked a best time of 1:32.156, positioning himself at the top of the timesheets after the session was shortened due to track damage. Chris Lulham of Emil Frey Racing followed closely in the #69 Ferrari with a time of 1:32.268, while Thomas Fleming’s #58 McLaren GT3 Evo rounded out the top three.
Notable performances included:
- Mateo Villagomez in the #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin, finishing fifth overall at 1:32.395.
- Title contenders Jordan Pepper in the #63 Lamborghini and championship leaders Team WRT’s #32 BMW finishing in 8th and 14th, respectively.
The session faced interruptions, culminating in a Red Flag incident which halted proceedings with under 40 minutes remaining.
Key Stats:
- Fastest Lap: 1:32.156 (Dennis Marschall, Kessel Racing)
- Total Entries: 39
- Red Flag Incidents: 1 due to circuit damage
Pre-Qualifying Insights
Marschall’s momentum continued into Pre-Qualifying, where he posted a 1:31.992, becoming the first driver to break the 1:32 barrier this weekend. Alessio Rovera followed in second place with a time of 1:32.046 in the #51 Ferrari, while Arthur Leclerc completed the Ferrari lockout of the top three in the #50 entry.
Top Results:
- Dennis Marschall (#74 Ferrari 296 GT3) – 1:31.992
- Alessio Rovera (#51 AF Corse Ferrari) – 1:32.046
- Arthur Leclerc (#50 AF Corse Ferrari) – Time Not Specified
- Lucas Auer (#48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG) – 1:32.169
- Cesar Gazeau (#10 Boutsen VDS) – 1:32.282
A total of 29 cars finished the session within one second, underscoring the competitive nature of the field.
Looking Ahead
Qualifying 1 is scheduled for tomorrow at 09:00 CEST, followed by Race 1 at 14:15 CEST, promising an exciting kickoff to the season finale.
Note: Track conditions remain a key focus after recent damage led to session interruptions, demanding attention from teams and organizers alike.
For ongoing updates, stay tuned to motorsport channels and event coverage.
