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BMW quickest at Spa 24 Hours test day – ahead of new Lamborghini

BMW Marc VDS led the way at the official Spa 24 Hours test today with former World Touring Car champion Augusto Farfus setting a best time of 2m19.034s in the No.45 BMW Z4.

#45 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4: Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus

#45 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4: Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus

Vision Sport Agency

#66 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW Z4: Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus, Jorg Muller
#19 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan: Andrew Palmer, Fabio Babini, Jeroen Mul
#83 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3
#2 Belgian Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS: Frank Stippler, Stéphane Ortelli, Nico Müller
#46 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4: Markus Palttala, Nicky Catsburg
#47 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia: Stéphane Lemeret, Pasin Lathouras, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Gianmaria Bruni
#28 Delahaye Racing Team Porsche 997 GT3R: Emmanuel Orgeval, Pierre Bordet, Alexandre Viron
#7 Bentley Team M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3: Steven Kane, Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick

Farfus’s time, set in the morning session, was slightly off last year’s pole position set by Laurens Vanthoor in an Audi R8 LMS Ultra at 2m18.710s.

"It has been a fruitful day,” said Marc VDS boss, Bas Leinders. “We managed to complete a good number of laps and we quickly found the right set-up for the cars.

“The fact that we took part in the race at Le Castellet really helped us to adapt to the Pirelli tyres and determine a good base set-up. This means that we can now focus on the race itself, which is one of our main targets for this season."

Second quickest overall was new Lamborghini Huracan entered by the Austrian Grasser Racing team. Italian veteran Fabio Babini set a best of 2m19.143s in the lime green machine.

The sister No.46  BMW Marc VDS car driven by Maxime Martin registered a time fractionally off the Lambo, with a 2m19.358s which claimed third place to underline a strong showing for the front-engined Z4.

The new Audi R8 LMS placed sixth in the hands of Laurens Vanthoor, Rene Rast and Markus Winkelhock.

The leading Bentley GT Continental was in 12th position with Paul Ricard runners-up Steven Kane, Guy Smith and Andy Meyrick laying strong foundations to further their title quest.

"We have been trying to find the right endurance set-up, which means that the car is now a bit higher off the ground, to avoid damage when taking the kerbs,” said Kane. “The Total 24 Hours of Spa is an important race and we would love to win it, but we will keep the championship in mind as well. A podium finish would be a great result."

In the Pro-Am class, the Gimmi Bruni and Alessandro Pier Guidi-driven Ferrari 458 Italia set the fastest time in class and fifth overall with a 2m19.549s.

The Spa 24 Hours takes place over the weekend of 25/26 July.

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