Nurburgring GP2: Robin Frijns beats Sam Bird to top practice

The reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion lapped the grand prix circuit in 1m39.838s in his Hilmer Motorsport-run car, 0.124 seconds faster than Sam Bird of Russian Time. Both Russian Time cars are sporting 'Save the Ring' liveries this weekend.

Arden's Mitch Evans was third fastest despite being stuck in the pits early on with a technical issue, but once that was sorted he lapped three-tenths off Frijns's time. Fabio Leimer was fourth for Racing Engineering.

Points leader Stefano Coletti (Rapax) ended the session fifth quickest, ahead of James Calado of ART, who suffered a huge moment at the high-speed Turn 9 and took an uncomfortable trip through the gravel.

Jolyon Palmer was seventh, ahead of Tom Dillmann, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Rene Binder. Silverstone poleman Marcus Ericsson was 11th, followed by title contender Felipe Nasr.

Silverstone sprint race winner Jon Lancaster was down in 24th in the second Hilmer entry.

Pos  Driver               Team                Time       Gap
 1.  Robin Frijns         Hilmer              1m39.838s
 2.  Sam Bird             Russian Time        1m39.962s  +0.124s
 3.  Mitch Evans          Arden               1m40.165s  +0.327s
 4.  Fabio Leimer         Racing Engineering  1m40.304s  +0.466s
 5.  Stefano Coletti      Rapax               1m40.340s  +0.502s
 6.  James Calado         ART                 1m40.425s  +0.587s
 7.  Jolyon Palmer        Carlin              1m40.457s  +0.619s
 8.  Tom Dillmann         Russian Time        1m40.509s  +0.671s
 9.  Adrian Quaife-Hobbs  MP                  1m40.533s  +0.695s
10.  Rene Binder          Lazarus             1m40.652s  +0.814s
11.  Marcus Ericsson      DAMS                1m40.782s  +0.944s
12.  Felipe Nasr          Carlin              1m40.797s  +0.959s
13.  Johnny Cecotto Jr    Arden               1m40.813s  +0.975s
14.  Stephane Richelmi    DAMS                1m40.830s  +0.992s
15.  Kevin Ceccon         Trident             1m40.883s  +1.045s
16.  Julian Leal          Racing Engineering  1m40.941s  +1.103s
17.  Nathanel Berthon     Trident             1m40.949s  +1.111s
18.  Alexander Rossi      Caterham Racing     1m40.951s  +1.113s
19.  Sergio Canamasas     Caterham Racing     1m40.982s  +1.144s
20.  Simon Trummer        Rapax               1m41.096s  +1.258s
21.  Rio Haryanto         Addax               1m41.230s  +1.392s
22.  Daniel de Jong       MP                  1m41.356s  +1.518s
23.  Fabrizio Crestani    Lazarus             1m41.500s  +1.662s
24.  Jon Lancaster        Hilmer              1m41.709s  +1.871s
25.  Jake Rosenzweig      Addax               1m41.805s  +1.967s
26.  Daniel Abt           ART                 1m42.324s  +2.486s