Zino-Ferret Fahlke (Hergiswil, Konrad Motorsport) set the fastest time of the first free practice in the Prototype Cup Germany at the Dekra Lausitzring. The 18-year-old, making his first appearance in the German LMP3 series, was 0.055 seconds faster than his team-mates Danny Soufi (21/USA) and Pavel Lefterov (27/BUL, both Konrad Motorsport), who were marginally faster than the pairing of Valentino Catalano (19/Westheim) and Mikkel C. Johansen (37/DEN, both Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport). Less than 0.1 seconds separated the top three.
“The car was good and I reckon my pace was not bad too,” said Fahlke, both calmly and modestly. “We must now continue to work this way, then we could be looking at a place on the podium.” He then let his guard slip and admitted that he is actually delighted with the fastest time. “I am obviously happy. I did not expect first place.”
Reigning champion Catalano was roughly 0.1 seconds slower than Fahlke, but could point to the reason for his shortcoming: “I could have taken the lead, but unfortunately I made a mistake in the final turn. However, it is more important that I feel good in the car; better than last year at the Lausitzring. Because I am not able to contest all the races in the Prototype Cup Germany in 2025, my main job is to support my team-mate Mikkel and the two drivers in our other Duqueine as well as possible.”
Alexzander Kristiansson (25, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) appreciates that support. The Swede shares the second Gebhardt car with Michael Herich (47/Brühl, Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsport) and ended FP1 in seventh. That made Herich the best-placed Trophy driver, as Thomas Ambiel (45/Eppingen, Rinaldi Racing) had to settle for eighth place. “This is my first time at the Lausitzring. The layout reminds me a bit of the small Swedish racetracks,” said Kristiansson. “I am trying to gradually explore my limits, so it really helps to have such experienced drivers as Valentino in the team. For example, he gives us advice on how best to warm the tyres up here, as well as many other useful things. However, everyone else in the team is also really helping me to improve.”
Between Catalano and Johansen in third place and the seventh-placed pairing of Kristiansson and Herich were Maksymilian Angelard (17/POL) and Mattis Pluschkell (20/Elmenhorst, both BWT Mücke Motorsport), Sven Barth (44/Eberbach) and Maxim Dirickx (21/BEL, both Aust Motorsport), and Mattias Bjerre Jakobsen (18/DEN) and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (17/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport). Dirickx was satisfied with his free practice. “Our focus was on improving the car, and I think we managed that. We were definitely faster than in yesterday’s test, and I felt good in the car.”
