Brno Auto GP: Narain Karthikeyan stays on top in practice two
Friday morning pacesetter Narain Karthikeyan continued his imposing Brno form by setting the fastest time in second practice for the 2013 Auto GP finale
The ex-Formula 1 driver stretched his advantage over the opposition in the second session.
In complete control throughout, Karthikeyan would eclipse his morning effort by almost a second after producing a searing lap of 1m43.604s a third of the way into the half-hour session.
Karthikeyan's Super Nova team-mate Vittorio Ghirelli held second spot for much of practice two, before engaging in a fierce fight with Tamas Pal Kiss for runner-up honours.
Hungarian Kiss moved into second position with four minutes of the session remaining, only for Ghirelli to fleetingly recover the place.
Kiss, who has switched back from Ibiza Racing to his previous berth at Zele Racing for this final round of 2013, finally edged out the championship leader by 0.061s in the final minute of the session.
However, Karthikeyan's benchmark never appeared under threat, and the Indian enjoyed an 0.873s margin over the opposition at the chequered flag.
After a subdued start to the weekend, in which he posted the 10th fastest time in practice one, championship hopeful Sergio Campana's title bid came alive in second practice as he recorded the fourth fastest lap.
Campana's long-standing Auto GP adversary and fellow title protagonist Kimiya Sato was in close proximity in fifth.
The Japanese racer bounced back to something nearing competitive form after struggling with a damaged exhaust in the morning.
Formula Renault graduate Meindert van Buuren took sixth ahead of regular 2013 frontrunner Kevin Giovesi.
Debutant Josef Kral was unable to match his impressive fifth fastest effort from this morning and finished 13th quickest.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Narain Karthikeyan Super Nova 1m43.604s 2. Tamas Pal Kiss Zele 1m44.477s +0.873s 3. Vittorio Ghirelli Super Nova 1m44.538s +0.934s 4. Sergio Campana Ibiza 1m45.100s +1.496s 5. Kimiya Sato Euronova 1m45.238s +1.634s 6. Meindurt van Buuren Manor MP 1m45.338s +1.734s 7. Kevin Giovesi Ghinzani 1m45.350s +1.746s 8. Robert Visoiu Ghinzani 1m45.376s +1.772s 9. Andrea Roda Virtuosi 1m45.860s +2.256s 10. Daniel de Jong Manor MP 1m46.127s +2.523s 11. Yoshitaka Kuroda Euronova 1m46.329s +2.725s 12. Maxim Snegirev Virtuosi 1m46.420s +2.816s 13. Josef Kral Zele 1m46.461s +2.857s 14. Roberto La Rocca Comtec/Virtuosi 1m46.568s +2.964s 15. Michela Cerruti MLR 71 1m48.000s +4.396s 16. Michele La Rosa MLR 71 1m48.740s +5.136s 17. Francesco Dracone Ibiza 1m49.649s +6.045s
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