Akkodis ASP paced Saturday morning's Free Practice at the Nürburgring. The 90-minute session began on a damp circuit, though a few bursts of sunshine saw the times tumble as grip levels increased.
Driving the title-chasing #88 Mercedes-AMG, Timur Boguslavskiy posted a 1m55.163s during the latter stages to pip Leonardo Pulcini (#19 Iron Lynx Lamborghini) to top spot. The Italian had occupied P1 for some time and remained the best of the Gold Cup contingent at the chequered flag.
The #11 Comtoyou Racing Audi was third quickest courtesy of Fred Vervisch. Phillip Ellis put the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG fourth overall and second in the Gold Cup, with Dennis Marschall completing the top-five in the #40 Tresor Orange1 Audi.
Ezequiel Perez Companc was the best of the Silver Cup entrants for Madpanda Motorsport. The #90 Mercedes-AMG was ninth overall, a little over half a second shy of Boguslavskiy's benchmark.
The Iron Dames Lamborghini led the way in the Bronze Cup thanks to Michelle Gatting, the Danish driver posting the 11th best time overall. The class leaders were completed by the #78 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini, which was 21st overall with Dennis Lind at the wheel.
With changing grip levels, it was inevitable that a number of cars would find the gravel at some stage. Series newcomer Kobe Pauwels spun twice in the #11 Audi, the 18-year-old testing the limits on his GT3 debut. Despite this, the session ran without stoppage.
Cars will be back on-track at 12:25 CEST for a 90-minute Pre-Qualifying session. Like all of this weekend's action, it will be streamed live on the GT World YouTube.
