The drivers in the Prototype Cup Germany prepared for their first qualifying, which is scheduled for early evening at the Nürburgring, with a second 55-minute free practice. This session saw the pairing of Ralf (49/Salzburg) and David Schumacher (22/Salzburg, both US Racing) make a clear statement that they have already adapted very well to the LMP3 Ligier; as in FP1, they were again the fastest car in the second session. Second place went to Valentino Catalano (18/Westheim) / Markus Pommer (33/Untereisesheim, both Gebhardt Motorsport), ahead of Danny Soufi (21/USA) and Torsten Kratz (53/Mönchengladbach, both Konrad Motorsport).
Soufi was happy when he climbed out of his Ligier and into the sunshine after free practice. “It was just what a practice session should be. We tried out a few things and gained some experience. We have closed the gap to the front-runners between yesterday’s first test and the second free practice today, and I think qualifying is looking positive for us. I would be pleased with a place in the top three.”
Behind Soufi and Kratz, fourth place went to Julien Apothéloz (23/CHE) and Riccardo Leone Cirelli (16/ITA, both BWT Mücke Motorsport). They were followed by Klaus Abbelen (63/Barweiler) / Felipe Laser (36/Leipzig, both Frikadelli Racing Team) and the three solo starters Keanu Al Azhari (16/UAE, Mühlner Motorsport), Antti Rammo (41/EST, MRS GT-Racing) and Stefan Aust (52/Münster, Rinaldi Racing). This is Al Azhari’s first race at the Nürburgring. “It is pretty cool to be starting here, after so many laps of this circuit on the simulator. The car feels really good, but I do not yet have a real idea of what to expect in qualifying. I think it is possible to finish in the top three if everything goes perfectly.”
The ninth-placed pairing of Jacob Erlbacher (23/Böblingen) and Maxime Dirickx (20/BEL, both Gebhardt Motorsport) missed FP1 with brake issues, but took to the track for their first laps of the day in the second free practice session. “We are obviously lacking the track time from the first practice. Fortunately, however, we had a test day yesterday, when we got a lot done,” said Erlbacher. His team-mate Dirickx, who is contesting his first season in the Prototype Cup Germany after making the switch from karting to LMP3 racing, added: “I was at the wheel for the second part of FP2. At one point I heard some strange noises and decided to end the session. However, I believe I was still able to gain valuable experience and continue to develop as a driver.”
