A total of 39 cars took to the track in the first official session of the Spa-Francorchamps weekend. The two United Autosports McLarens went to the top of the field early in the session, with Dean Macdonald in the #32 McLaren putting in a 2m31.999s shortly after teammate Charlie Fagg had set a 2m32.492s.
The two United Autosports McLarens remained on top for most of the session, but just minutes from the end it was AKKA ASP driver Jim Pla who split the two McLarens with a fastest time of 2m32.387s. The time set by Pla in the #87 Mercedes-AMG was enough to ensure the fastest time of the session in Pro-Am, but was still 0.388s shy of the top spot.
Fourth on track and third in Silver Cup was the #55 Mirage Racing Aston Martin, with Ruben del Sarte putting in a 2:32,979. Del Sarte's fastest time pushed the #90 Trivellato Racing by Villorba Mercedes-AMG down to fifth overall and fourth in the Silver Cup, ahead of the second-fastest Pro-Am car, the #72 Optimum Motorsport of Charlie Hollings and Lars Dahmann.
The #88 AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG completed the Silver Cup top five, finishing the session just ahead of the #36 Arkadia Racing Alpine that was third-fastest in the Pro-Am Cup. Maxime Soulet put in the fourth time in Pro-Am, putting the #34 Selleslagh Racing Team Mercedes-AMG in 13th overall, with the Centri Porsche Ticino #718 Porsche taking fifth in class in 14th overall.
In the Am Cup it was the #69 Team Fullmotorsport Audi that set the pace. Christophe Hamon's time of 2m34.229s was a tenth quicker than Nicolas Gomar in the #89 AGS Events Aston Martin. The #61 AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG of the Riccis was third in the Am Cup standings at the end of the 60 minutes of practice.
The session was interrupted by a Full Course Yellow on three occasions. After 20 minutes the #27 AGS Events Aston Martin needed to be recovered from the gravel at Stavelot and two more Full Course Yellows were called for debris on track.
The GT4 European Series teams will be back out on track at 19:35 local time for Free Practice 2.
RESULTS: FREE PRACTICE 1