The International GT Open was warmly welcomed at the Red Bull Ring as it took the track again after the summer break. Conditions were perfect for the free practice day, although not as warm and sunny as in the previous days.
Not surprisingly, the local heroes shone, with the Eastalent Racing Audi of reigning champions Simon Reicher and Christopher Haase setting the fastest time in 1.29.626, signed in the first session like for the rest of the top-5. Second-fastest, only 0s123 behind, was the Car Collection Porsche, entrusted here to Alexey Nesov and Maksim Kizilov, the Russian pair already seen at the Algarve.
They were followed by the Ferrari of another local team, Baron Motorsport, with Ernst Kirchmayr and Giacomo Altoè at the wheel (+0s216), the debuting second Greystone GT McLaren of Jayden Kelly and Josh Rattican (+0s262), and the elite Motorsport Ferrari of Tom Lebbon-Tom Emson (+0s321).
In sixth position, and fastest in the afternoon session, the GetSpeed Mercedes of Anthony Bartone-Fabian Schiller (+0s395), while Stanislaw Jedlinski-Krystian Korzeniowski (Olimp Racing Ferrari) topped the Am standings, with the 13th time overall.
In the Bronze session, the Baron Motorsport Ferrari #92 was fastest (1.29.851).
Two incidents marked the day: in session 1, the ISR Racing Audi of the Malcharek father-and-son pair went off-track, damaging the chassis and having to withdraw, while in the afternoon session, the Motopark Mercedes Remon Vos-Yelmar Buurman broke its engine, but should be repaired for tomorrow.
Last-minute changes to the entry list, on top of the new pair at Car Collection, include the presence of two-time Pro-Am champion Marco Pulcini, now in the Garage 59 McLaren together with Mark Sansom, and an all-Ferrari entry for Olimp Racing, as Marcin Jedlinski and Karol Basz switched from the Audi to a 296.