Hulkenberg on pace

Nico Hulkenberg followed up his debut win for Germany last weekend by posting the fastest time in practice for Sunday’s A1GP of the Czech Republic.

The 19-year-old, who mastered the slippery conditions in the season’s first feature race at Zandvoort, Holland, was almost a second clear of his nearest challenger, the Swiss car piloted by Sebastien Buemi at Brno.

Reigning champions France, in the hands of Nicolas Lapierre, were five hundredths of a second behind in third, while home favourite Tomas Enge was next up.

Team GB, who have Robbie Kerr back behind the wheel this weekend, were in fifth, albeit 1.5 seconds off the pace and China’s Congfu Cheng rounding out the top six.

Earlier, Hulkenberg could only manage third quickest in the two rookie practice sessions, having been outpaced by Loic Duval for France and Briton Oliver Jarvis.

Duval was untouchable, ending the day with a combined time more than 1.1 seconds clear of Jarvis, with Hulkenberg a further half second back.