Brazilian V8 Stock Cars: Stars show their pace

After the invited drivers had their first taste of handling the Stock cars last Thursday, this Friday morning session held in Curitiba had the regular drivers watching their co-stars flying through the 3.695-km circuit. Practice one was only to drivers with an invitation.

Some of them have previous experience in the series, and that was an edge for Antonio Pizzonia, a regular driver until last season and a two-time stock car winner. Driving the car of 2015 champion Marcos Gomes, the former Jaguar and Williams F1 driver set the fastest lap of the morning with 1min19s515.

"We started the weekend in good shape, and I could see how competent this team is since the first time the car hit the track. I hope we can keep this momentum and the pace to fight for pole position and for the race win", said Pizzonia.

For the third time racing alongside Thiago Camilo in the All Star Race, Audi racer Lucas di Grassi showed that quick adaptation is his forte: the FIA Formula E star and sportscar ace was second fastest, only 0s081 off Pizzonia’s pace.

Former IndyCar driver Vitor Meira was third. The reigning BrTCC champion was once again invited by Max Wilson - and he also have previous experience. With one regular season under his belt, the racer from Brasília was the third quickest.

Coming from Portugal to race Stock Cars for the second time, Antonio Félix da Costa was fifth, right in front of Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr. They race the cars of Allam Khodair and Átila Abreu, respectively.

At 12:10pm (local time), regular drivers retake the wheel with the option of sharing it with their invitees to the second practice session of the day.

First Practice - Invited Drivers

1-) 80 ANTONIO PIZZONIA (BRA)/Marcos Gomes (Voxx Racing Team) - 1min19s515

2-) 21 LUCAS DI GRASSI (BRA)/Thiago Camilo (Ipiranga-RCM) - 1min19s596

3-) 65 VITOR MEIRA (BRA)/Max Wilson (Eurofarma RC) - 1min19s640

4-) 1 CEZAR RAMOS (BRA)/Thiago Marques (RZ Motorsport) - 1min19S643

5-) 18 ANTONIO F. COSTA (POR)/Allam Khodair (Full Time Sports) - 1min19S670

6-) 51 NELSON PIQUET JR/Átila Abreu (Shell Racing) - 1min19S704

7-) 63 FRANCO GIROLAMI (ARG)/Nestor Girolami (Eisenbahn Racing Team) - 1min19s756

8-) 70 DENNIS DIRANI (BRA)/Diego Nunes (União Química Racing) - 1min19s777

9-) 5 FELIPE MALUHY (BRA)/Denis Navarro (Vogel Motorsport) - 1min19s798

10-) 90 GUILHERME SALAS (BRA) /Ricardo Mauricio (Eurofarma RC) - 1min19s805

Brazilian V8 Stock Cars