Oschersleben Free Practice: Aston Martin and Corvette on top

PREVIEW, HANDICAP CHANGES 

For the fifth and sixth races of the series, the 2008 FIA GT3 European Championship visits Motorsport Arena Oschersleben; the track was part of the first season f the Championship, in 2006. The demanding, technical track packs a dozen corners into its 3.7km, giving drivers no respite. Coming to the circuit, the big news is that the Ford GT has been given an additional 100kg of ballast, bringing it to 140kg – that affects championship leaders Ian Khan and Thomas Mutsch, as well as Bradley Ellis (3^rd) and Alex Mortimer (4^th). The Ascari KZ1R has had its ballast cut by 20kg to 60kg, while the Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S has had its ballast increased by 10kg to 50kg, but has had the air intake restrictor increased from 68mm to 72.3mm diameter.

 

The two free practice sessions on the technical, twisting circuit at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben provided lots of incidents and excitement as the drivers in the Championship prepared for rounds 5 and 6 of the series. Honours across the two sessions were split between Aston Martin and Corvette – the No.10 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9 of Lagniez and Makowiecki was fastest in the morning session, while the No.2 Martini Callaway Corvette Z.06R GT3 of Bert and Meir was quickest in the afternoon.

 

FIRST FREE PRACTICE: ASTON MARTIN AHEAD IN TRICKY CONDITIONS 

 

When the teams and drivers woke up on Friday morning, they must have wondered what they had done to annoy the rain gods – yet again it was wet, as it has been every day so far in the Championship. By the time the first hour-long session got under way the rain had stopped and there was a dry line around the entire track, although it was still damp off-line. The session had only been running for six minutes when the red flags went out – the No.33 APEX Motorsport Jaguar XKR of Hall and Quaife had stopped, right across the pit-lane exit.

 

Six minutes later the session got under way again. As the track dried and temperatures rose, so the times fell; the No.26 Team Berlanga Ascar KZ1R GT3 of Rich and Thompson went quickest, then improved even further with a 1:32.373 the following lap. That looked set to be the fastest time of the session, but with just a couple of minutes remaining, the No.10 Aston Martin pulled out a lap of 1:32.214. Third quickest was the No.2 Martini Callaway Corvette of Bert and Meir.

 

With the circuit remaining damp off-line, there were numerous spins as drivers tried to find the limit. Just as the session ended the No.33 APEX Jaguar limped in to the pit-lane entry and stopped; the No.3 Kessel Racing Ferrari F430 GT3 of Iliev and Kralev, possibly distracted by cars slowing to avoid the stopped Jaguar, spun on the exit of the Bauer-Kurve just before the pit-lane entry and hit the barriers. The impact did considerable damage to the right front corner – bumper, front undertray, radiator and suspension were all wrecked. The damage prevented the car from starting the second session.

 

SECOND FREE PRACTICE: CORVETTE TO THE FORE AS WEATHER IMPROVES 

 

Dark clouds were again threatening as the second session got under way, but the rain held off, and by the end of the session it was warm and sunny; the higher track temperatures meant more grip for the cars, and the lap times were correspondingly quicker. It only took 18 minutes of the session before the previous session’s quickest time was beaten – the No.47 Tech 9 Motorsport Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 of Haase and von Thurn und Taxis putting in a lap of 1:32.140.

 

That time remained quickest until just after the halfway point, when the No.1 Martini Callaway Corvette of Peyroles and Ruffier lapped in 1:32.037. They remained fastest for almost 20 minutes when the No.10 Aston Martin broke the 1:32s barrier with a 1:31.790. Only minutes later it was the turn of the No.20 Matech GT Racing Ford GT of Championship leaders Khan and Mutsch to head the timesheets, Mutsch lapping in 1:31.447; four minutes later, with only seven minutes of the session remaining, the No.2 Corvette put in a stunning lap of 1:30.945 to go well clear, a time that lasted to the end of the session.

 

The session was cut a few seconds short when the No.30 AutoGT Racing Morgan Aero 8 GT3 went off and stopped in a dangerous position; with not enough time for the car to be recovered, the red flags went out. By then, the No.10 Aston Martin was second fastest, having improved to a 1:31.319, ahead of the No.20 Ford GT.

 

Across the two sessions, it was difficult to conclude which cars are likely to go well on the difficult, tight Oschersleben circuit. The Corvette certainly looks like a good prospect for a race win – there were two in the top four of the first session, and three in the top seven of the second session, consistency no other car could match. The No.10 Aston Martin was in the top two of both sessions – but no other DBRS9 could do better than eighth. Despite the extra ballast they must now carry, the Ford GT trio went well, with all three being in the top fourteen of both sessions. Of course, there is no telling who was really going for a quick time today, who found a clear track, who was using the best tyres; tomorrow morning’s qualifying sessions should be a better indicator… as long as the weather co-operates!

 

2008-07-04
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