The International GT Open and GT Cup Open Europe pre-seasons started this weekend with the shared Winter Test at Paul Ricard. A host of new cars including the upgraded Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo and brand-new McLaren 720S GT3 and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 took to the French track to measure themselves with the established GTs.

SPS automotive performance set the quickest time of the two-day test session. The Fabrizio Crestani and Miguel Ramos-driven Mercedes-AMG GT3 topped the charts on Saturday with a time of 2:01.995 set late in the afternoon to close the test event with the fastest time of the weekend. The German team doubled down on the final day when the sister car piloted by Valentin Pierburg and Tom Onslow-Colethe shot to second place.

Lechner Racing’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Thomas Jäger and Mario Plachutta was fastest on Friday with a time of 2:02.709.

The 2019 International GT Open season begins on 27 April with the first of two races at Paul Ricard.

Photos by Erwan Seite.