Winter Series Portimao: Glimpses of form despite wet weather

The Algarve threw some of its wettest, windiest conditions at the GT, GT4 and Prototype Winter Series competitors over the two Test Days at Portimao on Thursday and Friday. But dry windows at the end of both days offered some guide to which drivers and cars might be quick over what is forecast to be a rain-free race weekend.

GT Winter Series

Despite the wind and intermittent showers that hit the Test Days and resulted in a fair mix of times amongst GT4 Winter Series and Prototype Winter Series cars, the GT Winter Series field managed to produce a fastest time in the 2m00s bracket in each of the first five sessions. The final run-out on Friday proved just how bizarre that consistency was, as a dry track saw the lap times leap to their full potential – almost 15 seconds quicker.

Leading the timesheets with that 1m45.420s lap at the close was the Mercedes AMG of series newcomer squad Haupt Racing Team, with 17-year-old German Finn Wiebelhaus at the wheel. Quite possibly exaggerated by a late red flag interrupting his rivals’ final laps and bringing the session to an early halt, Wiebelhaus’ advantage over the Rinaldi Racing Ferrari 296 of Christian Hook was a yawning 1.765s.

While Wiebelhaus will race alone this weekend, South African Kwanda Mokoena is scheduled to join him when Haupt returns to the GT Winter Series for the Valencia and Barcelona rounds as part of its programme to develop young driving talent.

Source: Autosport