AKKA ASP Team topped the opening free practice session for this weekend's Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe event, with its #90 Mercedes-AMG leading the way at Misano.
The opening 80 minutes of running took place in scorching temperatures, adding further physical and mechanical challenges for the capacity grid.
All 28 cars hit the circuit during the session, with the first 40 minutes reserved for bronze and silver drivers before a further 40 minutes of full-field running.
The #90 Mercedes-AMG led the way thanks to a lap of 1m34.845s by Timur Boguslavskiy, who was three tenths clear of the #26 Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS driven by Markus Winkelhock. The AKKA ASP car also topped the Silver Cup runners, while Nico Bastian in the sister #89 car ensured that two of the class leaders were among the overall top four.
Jim Pla set the best Pro-Am time aboard the #87 AKKA ASP car, concluding a very strong first showing by the French outfit. The Am Cup class was led by the #444 HB Racing Ferrari 488 shared by Wolfgang Triller and Florian Scholze, with the latter setting the lap.
A second free practice session is scheduled for 19.30 this evening. Saturday sees qualifying take place at 14.30 followed by the opening 60-minute race at 19.45. The weekend will conclude with a second race at 14.00 on Sunday afternoon.
Free practice 1 result