Dörr on top form: fastest time in DTM practice at the Norisring

• McLaren driver makes impressive start to fourth race weekend in the DTM
• Mercedes-AMG duo of Auer and Gounon follow in second and third place
• Close affair: just half a second separates top 15

Nuremberg. Ben Dörr (Butzbach/Dörr Motorsport) was the fastest driver between the walls and barriers in his McLaren 720S GT3 Evo on Friday. The 21-year-old stopped the clock at 48.793 seconds to set the best time of free practice at the Norisring. "I felt really good in the car. Compared to the past two years at the Norisring, we have made great progress. The layout and asphalt, with its many bumps, do not necessarily suit the McLaren. However, I am obviously still hoping for good results. A podium would be cool, although it will be difficult," said Dörr.

Second place went to Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf), who took 0.151 seconds longer for his fastest lap of the iconic track, which, at 2.162 kilometres, is the shortest on the calendar. Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter) was third, just 0.024 seconds behind his fellow Mercedes-AMG driver. Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing) was fourth fastest in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, while the best-placed Ferrari driver was Thierry Vermeulen (NL/Emil Frey Racing) in fifth. Only the top five dipped below 49 seconds on their fastest laps.

The field used Free Practice 1 on Friday morning to adapt the set-up of the cars to temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius on the narrow and bumpy street circuit in Nuremberg. The morning's fastest time came courtesy of Maro Engel (Monaco/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol) with 49.202 seconds. "It is always great fun to drive at the Norisring. The circuit is really cool, and it is all the better when you are out in front in practice. I have been racing in the DTM for so long, but I am still yet to record a win at the Norisring," revealed the experienced Monaco resident.

The drivers put pedal to the metal from the word go in Free Practice 2 in the afternoon. 12 minutes into the session, Gounon was the first driver to crack the 49-second barrier, putting him top of the timing sheet. Auer then took the lead on his 32nd lap, before Dörr moved into top spot shortly thereafter. One lap later, he improved his own time with the fastest lap of the day.

The two qualifying sessions for races seven and eight of the season will be held in two groups at the Norisring. The results of the two practice sessions form the basis for these groups: the drivers in the odd positions start at 09:35 on Saturday. Those in the even positions follow at 10:00. The order then changes on Sunday: the group that started second on Saturday open qualifying this time. Fans can follow qualifying in a live stream on ran.de. ProSieben is showing all 16 of this season's races live on free-to-air TV, with coverage starting at 13:00 on Saturday and Sunday. The two races can be seen in a free stream on Joyn, ServusTV ON and the YouTube channel @DTM.

Qualifying group 1
Ben Dörr (D/Dörr Motorsport)
Jules Gounon (F/Mercedes-AMG Team Mann-Filter)
Thierry Vermeulen (NL/Emil Frey Racing)
Maro Engel (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol)
Matteo Cairoli (I/Emil Frey Racing)
Marco Mapelli (I/Red Bull Team Abt)
Luca Engstler (D/Red Bull Team Abt)
Nicolas Baert (B/Comtoyou Racing)
Finn Wiebelhaus (D/HRT Ford Racing)
Ricardo Feller (CH/Manthey)
Marco Wittmann (D/Schubert Motorsport)

Qualifying group 2
Lucas Auer (A/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf)
Nicki Thiim (DK/Comtoyou Racing)
Mirko Bortolotti (I/TGI Team by GRT)
Maximilian Paul (D/TGI Team by GRT)
Tom Kalender (D/Mercedes-AMG Team Landgraf)
Arjun Maini (IND/HRT Ford Racing)
Timo Glock (D/Dörr Motorsport)
Kelvin van der Linde (ZA/Schubert Motorsport)
Thomas Preining (A/Manthey)
Bastian Buus (DK/Land-Motorsport)

All results from the Norisring can be found at dtm.com/en/results.