Luke Browning is fastest in Free Practice at the Hungaroring

IMAGE: Kleszczu via Wikipeida Commons

Luke Browning goes quickest in Free Practice in Hungary.

The Briton took the top spot away from Oliver Goethe in the final seconds of the session setting a 1:30.609 after the German had led the way for most of Practice.

Goethe in the end settled for P2 with Alex Dunne going third fastest. 

As it happened

Green flags were shown in the pit lane to get the session underway, but it wasn't long before Ritomo Miyata ran into mechanical problems with his ART Grand Prix machinery coming to a stop just coming out of Turn 1. The stranded car and driver brought out the red flags whilst the Marshalls could come to assist but the clock still continued to count down. 

Green flags were shown again and most drivers were keen to leave the pit lane as soon as possible with the red flag costing them 10 minutes of Practice time out on track. 

Joshua Duerksen goes quickest not long after the drivers have been back out on track with a 1:32.879. The AIX driver lead the way but it wasn't long before last weeks Feature Race winner Roman Stanek takes the top spot with a 1:32.528.

Alex Dunne and Victor Martins were setting purple sectors behind Czech driver and it was Alex Dunne who was next to take the P1 spot, setting a 1:32.306.

However, almost immediately Martins beats the Irishman's time with 1:31.998 having followed the Mclaren Development Driver round the Hungaroring. 

Last week's Sprint Race winner Fornaroli dethroned the Frenchman shortly after with a 1:31.854 as the track continues to ramp up for the drivers allowing them to constantly improve on their last effort and the efforts of their rivals. 

It was the turn of Oliver Goethe to go fastest with his MP Motorsport teammate Richard Verschoor following just three hundredths of a second behind. 

Martins was on the hunt to retake P1 from Goethe but the Williams Academy Driver has a big moment when exiting the final corner sending him wide and unable to recover the lap.

The MP Motorsport teammates were running well out on track with both drivers improving on their times with Goethe managing to better the fastest time that was set by himself by four hundredths of a second with 15 minutes of Practice remaining.

Stanek manages to put himself back in P2 with 10 minutes remaining just 0.176s behind the leader. 

Dunne was right there to take his place though, the Irishman putting in a 1.30.991to take second place, Goethe still is fastest for MP. 

Just over three minutes to go and the Brit Luke Browning slots into P2 with drivers putting in their final laps trying to improve on their times. 

Checkered flag is waved and it is Luke Browning to the top of the times with the Williams Academy Driver finding a tenth of a second to take P1 away from Oliver Goethe - the Brit setting a 1:30.609 to go fastest in Free Practice.

Goethe was demoted in the final seconds to P2 after a great session for the German with Alex Dunne taking P3.

Roman Stanek and Joshua Duerksen rounded out the Top 5 with Victor Martins following on in P6 after great efforts in the early stages.

Arvid Lindblad finished P7, followed by Dino Beganovic and Richard Verschoor with Gabriele Mini completing the Top 10.

Qualifying is next for the Formula 2 drivers so be sure to tune in at 15:55 local time (16:55 UK time) for all the action. 

Katie Shepherd 
Writer - F1 Journal