It’s fighting time already for the Auto GP drivers: in the first Free Practice session, the guys decided to give their best from the very first laps: as a result, six drivers are packed in just half a second and the track record (a 1’19”9 that had been posted by F2) has already been beaten by 2 seconds.
Kevin Ceccon posted the quickest time of the session: 2nd in the Series standings, the Italian driver has to make the most of a big chance, as Series leader Filippi is not racing in Germany due to a clashing commitment in GP2. Maybe that’s why he was very focused and consistent straight out of the box, stopping the clock on 1’18”045. Behind him, less than one tenth adrift, was Adrien Tambay. The Frenchman, who missed the Donington round, made his return to the Series thanks to an agreement with Campos Racing and was immediately on the pace. Surprising third place for Fabio Onidi, who not only managed a quick recovery after the hand fracture suffered in Donington, but was also really quick: “I wasn’t expecting it to be so good frankly, but I can drive as I like and I didn’t have much pain, even on the kerbs, that where my biggest concern”. Behind him was team-mate Fabrizio Crestani, with a 1’18”223 that was just enough to stay ahead of Sergei Afanasiev (1’18”278) and to Samuele Buttarelli, the Race 2 winner in Donington.
Seventh place was for Kevin Korjus, immediately competitive even if he’s just getting acquainted with the car: “It feels different from the World Series I usually drive. In some places it has even more grip, but I have to understand how that changes from corner to corner, so I need some time. Furthermore, it’s also a very very physical car”. Korjus was followed by Giovanni Venturini and Bruno Mendez, with Daniel de Jong closing the top 10 at his 2nd event in Auto GP with MP Motorsport.
Supernova, in the meantime, had to pull-out from the event at the last minute: Jon Lancaster suffered an ankle injury while training for a Triathlon event and as Filippi is racing in GP2 in Budapest, the team had no choice but missing this round.Oschersleben, 29 July, Free Practice 1 1 Kevin CECCON Ombra Racing 1:18.045 2 Adrien TAMBAY Campos Racing 1:18.143 3 Fabio ONIDI Lazarus 1:18.210 4 Fabrizio CRESTANI Lazarus 1:18.223 5 Sergei AFANASIEV Dams 1:18.278 6 Samuele BUTTARELLI TP Formula 1:18.530 7 Kevin KORJUS Dams 1:18.6138 Giovanni VENTURINI Griffitz Durango 1:18.733 9 Bruno MENDEZ Campos Racing 1:19.692 10 Daniel De JONG MP Motorsport 1:19.761 11 Adrian CAMPOS-JR Campos Racing 1:19.793 12 Pasquale DI SABATINO TP Formula 1:19.879 13 Giuseppe CIPRIANI Griffitz Durango 1:19.931 14 Francesco DRACONE Ombra Racing 1:22.148
