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Audi and Mercedes closely matched following opening practice in Adelaide
Christopher Mies and Yasser Shahin have led the way in opening practice as the field was closely matched during opening practice for the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS in Adelaide.
Mies and Shahin in The Bend Motorsport Park supported Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II led the way on a 1m 20.037s to finish the 25 minute session 0.299s clear of the Triple Eight Race Engineering Mercedes-AMG GT3 shared by Jamie Whincup and Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim.
The leading Pro-Am entry of RAM Motorsport was third courtesy of Garth Walden sharing with Michael Sheargold, while Liam Talbot was fourth in the Shannons Insurance Audi he’ll share with Fraser Ross.
GT Trophy class leader Brad Schumacher was an impressive fifth in the older spec Audi R8 LMS GT3 Ultra of Valmont Racing to be co-driven by Sergio Pires.
Audi Sport ace Kelvin van der Linde led the session early, but the C-Tech Laser Audi in which he’ll be joined by Tony Bates was sixth, 0.941s off the pace.
Outright title contender Prince Jefri Ibrahim was seventh alongside Nick Foster in the second Triple Eight Race Engineering Mercedes ahead of the lead KFC Audi of Gary Higgon and Paul Stokell.
Hallmarc’s Marc Cini was ninth in his Audi ahead of Melbourne Performance Centre stablemates James and Theo Koundouris in the Supabarn Supermarkets R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.
GTC was led by CHE Racing Team’s Thomas Sargent in his Tegra Australia-backed Porsche 911.2 GT3 Cup Car in 11th.
Harrolds Volante Rosso Racing led the way in the tight GT4 battle as Sam Brabham and Chris Batzios took the honours in opening practice in their Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Of course, a Bentley update. Steady progress was made for the two KMB Motorsport Continental GT3s as Mike Bailey finished 14th in the newer spec entry just ahead of Matt Belford in the first generation model.
The next session for Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS is at 1:20pm.