Akkodis ASP Mercedes Sets Fastest Time In Testing

The 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS pre-season test saw the 49 cars in the paddock gain valuable mileage at the Paul Ricard circuit ahead of the season opener next month at Monza.

The fastest time across the two days was set on the second day of track action (Wednesday), when Thomas Drouet posted a 1:52.701s at the wheel of the #88 Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG. This marks the fourth time in succession that the German marque has topped the prologue, with Akkodis ASP (2020 & 2021) and Haupt Racing Team (2022) leading the previous editions.

This was a very impressive test for Akkodis ASP, which amassed four overall GT Europe titles in 2022. The team’s flagship #88 machine also recorded the best average result across the test, finishing each session among the top-four and undertaking a total of 167 laps.

Among the other brands, the most consistent performers across the test were the #25 Saintéloc Junior Team Audi; the #46 Team WRT BMW; the #28 Nova Race (Honda); the #5 Optimum Motorsport McLaren; the #52 AF Corse Ferrari; the #96 Rutronik Racing Porsche; and the #63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini.

Four brands were running new machinery at the test days. Ferrari’s teams put the 296 GT3 through its paces, while Porsche’s new 922-spec 911 GT3 R was on-track. Lamborghini ran its upgraded Huracán EVO2 model, and McLaren rolled out the 720S Evo.

The first track action of the prologue saw Comtoyou Racing emerge on top from Tuesday morning’s run with its #11 Audi R8 LMS EVO 2. Gilles Magnus set a 1:53.294s for the Belgian squad, which makes its Fanatec GT Europe debut this season. This time wasn’t beaten in the afternoon, ensuring that Magnus was quickest overall on Tuesday.

Tresor Attempto Racing meanwhile, kept Audi on top for Tuesday afternoon. Factory ace Mattia Drudi posted a 1:53.726s aboard the #40 machine, which is set to compete under the Tresor Orange1 banner this term. Saintéloc Junior Team (Audi), Akkodis ASP (Mercedes-AMG) and ROWE Racing (BMW) also showed front-running pace on the opening day.

Akkodis ASP then led a Mercedes-AMG one-two on Wednesday morning, with the #57 Winward Racing entry lapping 0.175s shy of the overall pace, while Boutsen Racing slotted in third with its #17 Audi. These cars would prove to be the top-three overall at the test.

Mercedes-AMG Team AlManar by GetSpeed completed a strong test for the German marque by pacing the final session with its #777 entry. Luca Stolz posted a 1:53.423s to beat the ever-present #88 Akkodis ASP machine and the #888 Audi from CSA Racing.

The #25 Saintéloc Junior Team Audi completed the most mileage at the test, logging a total of 252 laps across both days. The #11 Comtoyou Racing Audi (246 laps), #911 Pure Rxcing Porsche (242 laps), and #30 Team WRT BMW (240 laps) also posted impressive totals. The most running in a single session was 81 laps for the #2 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG on Tuesday morning.

Wednesday morning was the only session in which all 49 participating in the test completed running. The #18 GSM AB1 Lamborghini missed Tuesday morning while the #888 CSA Racing Audi skipped Tuesday afternoon and the #38 ST Racing with Rinaldi Ferrari was absent from the final session.

With testing complete, the focus now switches to the first competitive action of the 2023 season. The campaign will begin with a three-hour Endurance Cup race at Monza on 21–23 April, followed by the opening Sprint Cup race weekend at Brands Hatch on 13–14 May.

DAY 2 MORNING SESSION TIMES >>>

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Featured images courtesy of SRO/TWENTY-ONE CREATION/Jules Benichou