> Result: Free Practice 1
Marcus Clutton’s early effort was enough to hand Enduro Motorsport’s McLaren fastest time in opening practice at Snetterton after a rain shower prevented any further improvements during this weekend’s first hour-long session.
It was a similar story in GT4 where Scott McKenna snatched top spot in the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK Supra, before the conditions conspired to keep the car out front.
GT3
With light drizzle in the air, Clutton wasted little time setting an early benchmark aboard Enduro’s McLaren 720S, which had already demonstrated its potential during Friday’s testing. Indeed, his second tour of 1m49.109s put him just ahead of Sandy Mitchell’s Barwell Lamborghini and would remain unbeaten thereafter.
With the time set, Clutton handed over to team-mate Morgan Tillbrook to get some slick-shod running before the weather deteriorated at mid-distance and essentially cemented the order.
Adam Balon and Mitchell wound up just under three-tenths shy of top spot and at the head of a train of Lamborghinis featuring team-mates Leo Machitski/Dennis Lind and WPI’s Michael Igoe/Phil Keen. Andrew Howard/Jonny Adam were fifth fastest in Beechdean’s Aston Martin, with the new Oman Racing with TF Sport Vantage shared by Ahmad Al Harthy/Charlie Eastwood rounding out the top six.
GT4
Top spot wasn’t sealed quite as quickly in GT4 after Snetterton specialist Jordan Collard – bidding for a third win in as many British GT outings here – made the early running for Team Rocket RJN. But his time at the top was brief thanks to Scott McKenna who made the most of fresh slick tyres to secure fastest time before the heavens opened.
Michael Benyahia/Alain Valente’s #3 Team Rocket RJN McLaren improved to second fastest, but was still half-a-second shy of the runaway Toyota. Collard/James Kell made it two RJN 570S GT4s in the top three, with the Newbridge Aston Martin Vantage of Matt Topham/Darren Turner fourth.
Dave Whitmore/Jake Giddings’ Ciceley Motorsport Mercedes-AMG was fifth quickest, ahead of the championship leading Century Motorsport BMW M4 of Will Burns and Gus Burton.
The day’s second practice sessions begins at 12:05 BST.