Photo: TCR Media

Ferenc Ficza again quickest as he tops Free Practice 1 in Georgia

Zele Racing’s Ferenc Ficza topped the time sheets for the second session in a row, as the Hungarian emerged fastest of all in his SEAT, almost a quarter of a second clear of local hero Davit Kajaia’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

16 cars took part in the 30-minute practice session, with Shota Abkhazava confirmed as a last-minute addition overnight in the third GE-Force Racing Alfa Romeo, though the 45-year-old Georgian would be nine seconds off the pace and slowest during the session.

Stefano Comini set the first competitive benchmark in the session, setting a time in the low 1:43s in his Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS, but just before the ten-minute mark his time had been beaten by both M1Ra’s Roberto Colciago and the Alfa of Davit Kajaia, who was the first to break under 1:43 in the session.

Pepe Oriola then went fastest just a few thousandths faster in his Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT León, but then the Hungarians surged forward, with first Attila Tassi going fastest in the M1RA Honda, before Ficza pulled out a time of 1:41.850, the fastest of the weekend so far, and the only driver to break under 1:42.

The only main improvements during the last ten minutes were for the GE-Force Alfa of Kajaia, who split the two Hungarians with the second fastest time, and a last-minute lap from Hugo Valente who had sat out most of the session, popping into fifth position behind the Volkswagen of Jean-Karl Vernay.

There were no incidents besides a few light spins for Icarus’s Duncan Ende, Craft-Bamboo’s Pepe Oriola and M1RA’s Roberto Colciago.

The second practice session is scheduled for 12:10 GET (10:10 CET).