+ 2 Seas Mercedes-AMG and Mahiki Lotus fastest before qualifying
+ Result: Pre-Qualifying
Phil Keen posted the fastest time in Pre-Qualifying at Snetterton where the 2 Seas Mercedes-AMG lapped 0.187s faster than Sandy Mitchell’s Barwell Lamborghini.
Further back, Gordie Mutch rather appropriately topped the GT4 times in Mahiki Racing’s Lotus, which was conceived just down the road in Hethel.
Barwell had looked set to maintain its grip on proceedings after Mitchell paced this morning’s session. The sister Lamborghini driven by Ricky Collard led a top three featuring Maximilian Götz and Mitchell at half distance, and the same trio remained two tenths apart with 10 minutes to go.
At that stage Abba’s Sam Neary, Keen, and Garage 59’s Marcus Clutton also featured in a tight top six. But the situation changed when Keen went faster still and Mitchell slotted into second.
The Mercedes-AMG’s 1m46.343s was 0.2s slower than Mitchell managed this morning but a similar margin ahead of the same driver in Pre-Qualifying, as well as three tenths clear of Collard who retained third from Götz, Neary and Clutton.
In GT4, Optimum’s McLaren appeared the car to beat once again before Mutch improved significantly with two minutes remaining.
Morning pace setter Jack Brown and his co-driver Zac Meakin both took turns at the top and appeared on course to stay there thanks to the latter’s 1m56.160s – two tenths quicker than Brown’s Free Practice best.
However, Mutch’s final effort – 1m55.757s – ultimately carved four tenths from GT4's fastest time in the session fastest time.
Forsetti’s Aston Martin also featured in the top three for the second time today thanks to Mikey Porter who finished half-a-second down on Mutch, while Jordan Albert (Steller/Audi), Freddie Tomlinson (DTO/Ginetta) and Matt Cowley (Paddock/Mercedes-AMG) completed a top six comprising as many different manufacturers.
Mutch’s time aside, 0.2s covered positions two through six.
Qualifying gets underway at 16:10 BST. Watch it live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel and Sky Sports F1.
