FORMULA class: Early finish after a crash – Ledermair back on track and top of the field
13 drivers had registered for the BOSS GP FORMULA class at the « Gamma Racing Days » in Assen (NED). Season races 9 and 10 will take place at the circuit in the northeast of the Netherlands. One free practice for the races was scheduled on Saturday (5th of August) at 9:31 a.m. It ended earlier than planned with an horrific crash by Klaas Zwart (OPEN class).
Both BOSS GP classes – OPEN and FORMULA class – went on track together for the practice session. Twelve drivers represented the FORMULA class. Henk de Boer (De Boer Manx) had to step back due to health issues already before the race weekend. Weather conditions were fine in Assen on Saturday morning: 18°, cloudy, but dry.
The practice session started slowly, due to two yellow flag phases in the beginning. ‘PETER’ (Ray-Ban) spun of the track already in the first lap. Only minutes later, Wolfgang Jordan (H&A Racing Team) spun off the track as well. Then finally drivers tested the circuit at its best. Back on track after absence in Zolder (BEL) on 15th/16th of July was Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport). The Austrian was not only back on track, but also back on top, since he drove the fastest lap of the FORMULA class start grid at the free practice in 1:25,829 min with his Dallara GP2. As might be expected, Ledermair was followed by Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) in the Lola Auto GP with his best lap in 1:31,449. One can expect an exciting battle between Ledermair and Raghunathan on the track at the race, as we already have seen during the whole season.
Mahaveer Raghunathan on track in Assen 2017.
The following drivers showed as well some neck-to-neck-laps, with some really close gaps: Marc Faggionato (Zig Zig), Christian Eicke and Peter Göllner (both Speed Center), Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), Veronika Cicha (H&A Racing) as well as Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport). Meanwhile Wolfgang Jordan had to quit free practice early, after he spun off the track after five laps driven.
The free practice finally was cancelled after a horrifying crash of Klaas Zwart (Team Ascari) of the OPEN class. There won’t be another training session. The Qualifying will start at 1:04 p.m.
These are the results of the free practice:
| Position | No. | Name | Nat. | Team | Car | Fastest lap (min) | In | Gap | Laps | km/h |
| 1 | 444 | Johann Ledermair | AUT | Ledermair Motorsport | Dallara GP2 | 1:25,829 | 7 | 8 | 191,05 | |
| 2 | 115 | Mahaveer Raghunathan | IND | PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport | Lola Auto GP | 1:31,449 | 7 | 5,620 | 8 | 179,31 |
| 3 | 129 | Marc Faggionato | MC | Zig Zag | Dallara GP2 | 1:34,413 | 9 | 1,203 | 10 | 173,68 |
| 4 | 555 | Christian Eicke | SUI | Speed Center | Dallara GP2 | 1:35,125 | 10 | 0,712 | 10 | 172,38 |
| 5 | 101 | Peter Göllner | SUI | Speed Center | Dallara GP2 | 1:35,488 | 10 | 0,363 | 10 | 171,73 |
| 6 | 505 | Walter Steding | GER | Inter Europol Competition | Dallara GP2 | 1:36,461 | 6 | 0,973 | 8 | 170,00 |
| 7 | 222 | Veronika Cicha | CZE | H&A Racing | Dallara GP2 | 1:37,373 | 8 | 0,912 | 8 | 168,40 |
| 8 | 411 | Karl-Heinz Becker | GER | Becker Motorsport | Dallara World Series by Nissan | 1:38,735 | 10 | 1,362 | 10 | 166,08 |
| 9 | 105 | Wolfgang Jordan | GER | H&A Racing | Dallara GP2 | 1:51,573 | 5 | 12,838 | 5 | 146,97 |
| 10 | 111 | ‘PETER’ | FRA | Team Ray Ban | Dallara World Series by Renault | 1 | 0,00 |
MORE:
Picture gallery of Assen 2017: bossgp.com/gallery/assen-gamma-racing-days
OPEN class: Free practice at “Gamma Racing Days” in Assen 2017: bossgp.com/open-class-free-practice-ends-with-a-horrific-crash-by-klaas-zwart
FORMULA class: Start list at “Gamma Racing Days” in Assen 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-start-list-for-the-gamma-racing-days-in-assen-ned-is-set
Standings of season 2017: bossgp.com/standings
05/08/2017