Bumper fields from GTWS, GT4WS and FWS made the most of the valuable hours of track time, each completing multiple sessions over Thursday and Friday in preparation for an action-packed weekend of racing on the 4.005km circuit.
GTWS
Impressive 17-year-old Finn Wiebelhaus topped all three GTWS sessions on Friday in his Haupt Racing Team Mercedes AMG Evo GT3. Headlights were blazing as darkness began to fall in the final session, Wiebelhaus making the most of the cool conditions to set a best time of the test: 1m 30.943s. That was just 0.118s up on former factory Aston Martin World Endurance Championship racer Nicki Thiim in SSR Performance’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo II.
Wiebelhaus’s form bodes well for his second weekend in GTWS following his debut in Portimao. The teenager, who will miss the next round in Aragon but return for the final round in Barcelona, is gearing up for his first season in GT3, racing in the ADAC GT Masters. Previously he spent three years in karts and one year in Formula 4. Wiebelhaus is racing solo in GTWS to maximise his seat time as he acclimatises to the power of GT3.
As for Thiim, he too will race alone this weekend for his GTWS debut as the Dane prepares to follow in the wheel tracks of his father Kurt and race in the DTM.
“I’m here to get up to speed in the Lamborghini for the DTM,” said the 34-year-old, who is prioritising the two sprint races in Valencia. “I’m just doing this round of the Winter Series and it’s good learning with the sprint format. Valencia is also a little bit like some of the German circuits such as Oschersleben.”
The other Haupt Mercedes showed a good turn of pace in the hands of South African Kwanda Mokoena, another newcomer to GT3. Mokoena was fifth fastest in the final session, behind a GRWS Audi and a Team Joos Porsche. I love the track and the atmosphere,” said the driver who carries the image of a ram on the front of his helmet, thanks to a certain reputation earned in karting!
“This is my second year in Europe, I’m starting to fit in and I’m learning a lot. This is preparation for my season in GT Masters. Right now we are going in the right direction every session, to find that tenth or two. Baby steps I would call it, but as long as we are improving I can’t complain.”
GT4WS
Source: Autosport