Coletti sets GP2 practice pace

Stefano Coletti recorded the fastest time in free practice at a scorchingly-hot Hockenheim in GP2 free practice, outpacing McLaren Formula 1 junior Stoffel Vandoorne by a tenth of a second.

Racing Engineering driver Coletti and ART's Vandoorne swapped the top spot on a couple of occasions, with the Italian ending the session in front with his 1m24.771s. He then sat out the last 10 minutes of the session, and watched his rivals fail to beat his time.

Coletti's teammate Raffaele Marciello was third fastest, having starred in recent races without quite getting the results his pace has deserved.

Former Caterham driver Alexander Rossi was fourth quickest on his first run for Campos Racing, while his replacement at Caterham, Tom Dillmann, could only manage 21st.

Conor Daly was a late improver, going P5 for Lazarus having spent most of the session near the bottom of the times.

Series dominator Jolyon Palmer was down in 12th after the 45-minute session, with nearest rival Felipe Nasr in eighth.

Nasr's Carlin teammate Julian Leal stopped at the Parabolika during the session, while MP's Marco Sorensen did likewise at the entrance to the pitlane, as did Campos's Arthur Pic.