Oscar Tunjo (29/COL) and Mikkel C. Johansen (37/DEN, both Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) set the fastest time in Free Practice for the Prototype Cup Germany at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Second place went to Riccardo Leone Cirelli (17/ITA) and Mattias Bjerre Jakobsen (18/DEN, both BWT Mücke Motorsport), ahead of Danny Soufi (21/USA) and Pavel Lefterov (27/BUL, both Konrad Motorsport). Reigning champion Valentino Catalano (19/Westheim, Badischer Motorsport Club) was fourth fastest on his comeback.
“It was a good session, and my team-mate Mikkel also took a step forward,” said Tunjo, summing up the free practice session. Cirelli was the fastest of the two Mücke drivers, while his partner Bjerre Jakobsen struggled to hit top form. “I lost time on Riccardo, but don’t actually know exactly where I can find it at the moment. However, I was in a heavier car, as I had a full tank at first. Plus, the track was getting faster all the time toward the end of the session. However, the most important thing for us is that we were better than Konrad Motorsport, as they are above us in the table and we want to climb above them.”
For Franz Konrad’s team, the focus was on testing. “We tried a few things and must now evaluate the results. Generally speaking, it will not be easy to find the perfect set-up, as the track can change faster at an event with a lot of vintage car races than it does with modern cars – if only because the cars often lose a bit of liquid here and there,” agreed Soufi and Lefterov, who are out to defend their championship lead in the Prototype Cup Germany in Hockenheim.
Behind the American and the Bulgarian was Catalano in fourth place. “That was a good start. My lap time on old tyres was okay and the changes we made to the car during the session were an improvement.” Michael Herich (47/Brühl) and Alexzander Kristiansson (25/SWE, both Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) were less happy; the Swede skidded of the track early in the session, causing a Full Course Yellow phase. “Alexzander is more cross with himself than anyone else is. I don’t blame him at all,” said Herich in defence of his team-mate. “That kind of thing happens in motorsport sometimes.”
