-
Home
-
Latest Headlines
-
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
-
Latest Headlines: Moto-Racing
-
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
GT Racing
GT: Maranello Ferrari Leads Friday Practice At Bathurst
Allan Simonsen tops time charts, outpaces Phoenix Racing Audi in opening day of activities at Bathurst...
Maranello Motorsport topped the time charts on Friday at Bathurst. (Photo: John Dagys)
While Audi may have dominated last year's Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, Ferrari rose to the front in the opening day of practice for Sunday's around-the-clock Australian marathon.
Allan Simonsen topped the time charts in Friday's practice, putting his Maranello Motorsport Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 ahead of the Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS cars and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s following more than 90 minutes of track time on the famed Mount Panorama.
The Dane's 2:08.282 lap time edged out the No. 2 Phoenix Racing Audi of Aussies Craig Lowndes, Warren Luff and Mark Eddy by 0.365 seconds. More impressively, Simonsen's time was two-tenths quicker than the fastest race lap set here by eventual V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup during last year's Bathurst 1000
“It’s just great,” Simonsen said. “Maranello Motorsport has put in a big effort to come here and there has been so much effort from everyone. The team are dialing everything in and getting everyone some laps and so far the team and the drivers are all pretty pleased."
Lamborghini Gallardos occupied the third and fourth quickest times, with the No. 23 JBS Gallardo posting a 2:09.173 around the mountain. The No. 4 Consolidated Chemicals machine, led by V8 star Cameron McConville and Dutch veteran Peter Kox was a further half-second behind.
Defending winners Christopher Mies and Darryl O'Young, who are joined by Christer Jons this weekend, could only muster the sixth quickest time on Friday, but was still ahead of the fastest Mercedes SLS of Erebus Racing, which had a drama-filled day.
Bret Curtis crashed the No. 20 Erebus Mercedes during the second of three 35-minute sessions, with the gull-winged beast sustaining left-rear damage. The Australian squad, running in conjunction with Dubai 24 winners Black Falcon, did not return in the afternoon but will be ready for qualifying tomorrow.
Of note, the No. 22 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS of Mark Patterson, Alain Li and Frank Yu posted the eighth-best time of the day, thanks to Patterson's 2:16.493 set in the morning.
Twenty-seven cars recorded times on Friday, including a brace of GT Production and Production machinery, which occupy the three other classes in action this weekend.
More than two hours of qualifying is on tap for Saturday, which will uniquely be determined by the aggregate times from each driver (the three slowest, in the case of a four-driver squad).
RESULTS: Friday Practice (Combined)
PHOTOS: Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Allan Simonsen topped the time charts in Friday's practice, putting his Maranello Motorsport Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 ahead of the Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS cars and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3s following more than 90 minutes of track time on the famed Mount Panorama.
The Dane's 2:08.282 lap time edged out the No. 2 Phoenix Racing Audi of Aussies Craig Lowndes, Warren Luff and Mark Eddy by 0.365 seconds. More impressively, Simonsen's time was two-tenths quicker than the fastest race lap set here by eventual V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup during last year's Bathurst 1000
“It’s just great,” Simonsen said. “Maranello Motorsport has put in a big effort to come here and there has been so much effort from everyone. The team are dialing everything in and getting everyone some laps and so far the team and the drivers are all pretty pleased."
Lamborghini Gallardos occupied the third and fourth quickest times, with the No. 23 JBS Gallardo posting a 2:09.173 around the mountain. The No. 4 Consolidated Chemicals machine, led by V8 star Cameron McConville and Dutch veteran Peter Kox was a further half-second behind.
Defending winners Christopher Mies and Darryl O'Young, who are joined by Christer Jons this weekend, could only muster the sixth quickest time on Friday, but was still ahead of the fastest Mercedes SLS of Erebus Racing, which had a drama-filled day.
Bret Curtis crashed the No. 20 Erebus Mercedes during the second of three 35-minute sessions, with the gull-winged beast sustaining left-rear damage. The Australian squad, running in conjunction with Dubai 24 winners Black Falcon, did not return in the afternoon but will be ready for qualifying tomorrow.
Of note, the No. 22 United Autosports Audi R8 LMS of Mark Patterson, Alain Li and Frank Yu posted the eighth-best time of the day, thanks to Patterson's 2:16.493 set in the morning.
Twenty-seven cars recorded times on Friday, including a brace of GT Production and Production machinery, which occupy the three other classes in action this weekend.
More than two hours of qualifying is on tap for Saturday, which will uniquely be determined by the aggregate times from each driver (the three slowest, in the case of a four-driver squad).
RESULTS: Friday Practice (Combined)
PHOTOS: Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
FIA GT Nogaro
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
V8: COTA Friday Notebook
John Dagys explores some of the storylines from the first… -
V8: Lowndes Quickest On Friday At COTA
Red Bull Racing driver tops time charts in opening day of practice… -
INDYCAR: Viso Hits 229.537 On Wet Friday At Indy
Fast Friday's activities turned into Wet Friday just past 3 p.m.… -
PHOTOS: V8 Supercars COTA Gallery
View the first photos from Austin as V8 Supercar drivers prepare… -
MILLER: Indy Needs To Become The Week Of May
Despite decent to great weather, the Speedway has been empty the… -
INDYCAR: 230 MPH Pole Speeds At Indy Possible On Saturday
If the conditions are right on Saturday’s run for the pole,… -
INDYCAR: Live Mailbag Chat From Indy With Miller & Pruett, 2PM ET…
Join Marshall Pruett and Robin Miller for a live IndyCar Q&A session… - More News
