The 45th ADAC Zurich 24-hour race officially started on Thursday afternoon with free practice. The Land-Audi R8 LMS # 29 set the first best time of the weekend on the combination of the Grand Prix circuit and the Nordschleife.
Connor de Phillippi (USA), Christopher Mies (Heiligenhaus), Kelvin van der Linde (South Africa) and Markus Winkelhock (Berglen-Steinach) were a good six seconds faster in 8: 19,006 minutes than their Audi brand colleagues with the # 10 on the Audi Sport Team WRT. Nico Müller (Switzerland), Rene Rast (Frankfurt / Main), Frank Stippler (Bad Münstereifel) and Frederic Vervisch (Belgium) rounded the route in 8: 25,143 minutes. Third place went to the Falken-Porsche # 8 with 26,440: 44 minutes with Laurens Vanthor (Belgium), Martin Ragginger (Austria), Jörg Bergmeister (Langenfeld) and Dirk Werner (Würzburg).
“I drove very relaxed because it was still free practice. I hope for some things in qualifying, ”said Kelvin van der Linde, who was behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS during the fastest lap. Qualifying 20 will take place in the evening from 05:23 p.m. to 30:1 p.m., after qualifying 2 on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the last twelve participants in the top 30 qualifying session will be determined. On Friday evening from 19:50 p.m. to 20:30 p.m., it will be about the pole position and the best places on the starting grid.
Cover picture: Nürburgring 24 Hours 2017, Nürburgring-Nordschleife - Photo: Group C Photography
