A damp Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps greeted competitors for the first Free Practice of the 2017 Total 24 Hours of Spa. Rain overnight had already dampened the track before competitors headed out and while it was never more than a drrizzle, it was never really a fully dry session.
Setting the fastest time of the day was the #63 GRT Grasser Racing Team of Mikko Bortolotti, Christian Engelhart and Andrea Caldarelli with a time of 2:20.406.
The #88 Mercedes-AMG Team Akka ASP of Felix Serralles, Daniel Juncadella, and Tristian Vautider finished the session in second place, 0.200 seconds down on the Lamborghini. In third place was the #84 Mercedes-AMG Team HTP Motorsport car of Jimmy Eriksson, Maxi Buhk and Franck Perera.
Two Akka ASP Mercedes took the fourth and fifth place with the #90 entry of Edoardo Mortara, Michael Meadows, and Raffaele Marciello finishing the session with a fastest time of 2:20.946. The Pro Am #89 of Akka ASP of Daniele Perfetti, Alex Fontana and Ludovic Badey managed to lap with a similar pace of 2:20.956.
KÜS Team75 Bernhard make their 24 hour endurance bow this weekend and completed the session with a time of 2:20.964, good enough for seventh place with their line-up of Kevin Estre, Michael Christensen and Lauren’s Vanthoor.
#5 Audi Sport Team WRT Audi of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Dries Vanthoor finished in eighth place, just ahead of the #55 Kaspersky Motorsport Ferrari, with Giancarlo Fisichella setting the fastest time of his team-mates James Calado and Marco Cioti with a 2:21.137 lap.
#23 Motul Team RJN Nissan rounded out the top ten with a 2:21.274 as team-mates Alex Buncombe, Lucas Ordonez and Katsumasa Chiyo shared driving duties.
Fastest of the AM competitors was the #888 Kessel Racing Ferrari in forty-third with the two NAT entries propping up the time sheets, led by Speedlover Porsche.
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