PRACTICE: Dunne sets the benchmark in opening Spa-Francorchamps session

Alexander Dunne was in strong form during the opening session of the Spa-Francorchamps weekend, setting the fastest time in Free Practice for Rodin Motorsport.

The Irishman completed a 1:59.519 at the chequered to set the quickest time of the morning, leading PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì by 0.399s, with Victor Martins third for ART Grand Prix.

After the early warmup laps around a cold track, it was Roman Stanek that set the early pace for Invicta Racing on a 2:01.372.

Minì then eclipsed that time by 0.529s moments later, completing a 2:00.843 to take P1. Martins briefly went fastest, but Stanek’s 2:00.419 put him back on top, with Hitech TGR’s Luke Browning going to second, 0.001s behind.

Minì continued his solid start to the weekend by finishing a 2:00.093 to go back to first, before lowering the time to beat to a 1:59.918 on his next flying lap.

Martins and Dunne also went up to second and third respectively, with the top three covered by just 0.063s heading into the final 20 minutes.

While several drivers chose to return to the pitlane, Dunne pushed on for another push attempt and went quickest by 0.080s on a 1:59.838.

Once the field returned to the track, several drivers improved on their aging Medium tyres, including Dunne, who finished off a 1:59.519 as the chequered flag waved.

This extended his gap out in front to 0.399s to Minì in second, with Martins third ahead of the second Rodin car of Amaury Cordeel and Jak Crawford in fifth for DAMS Lucas Oil.

Ritomo Miyata was sixth for ART, ahead of Championship leader Richard Verschoor, with Arvid Lindblad in P8. AIX Racing’s Joshua Duerksen ended up in P9, as Stanek completed the top 10.

That wraps up the Free Practice action, but the drivers will be back out on track for Qualifying at 15:00 local time.