PRACTICE: Minì quickest around Monte Carlo in rain-hit session

PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì led the opening session of the Monte Carlo weekend on a 1:27.400 in a session heavily disrupted by Red Flags. Overcast conditions gave way to rain, ensuring the Italian’s early laptime remained quickest ahead of Leonardo Fornaroli of Trident and teammate Dino Beganovic.

There were rumbles of thunder as the session got underway though the drops of rain didn’t warrant a move away from dry tyres.

Rodin Motorsport’s Joseph Loake was the first driver of the weekend to find the run-off area at Sainte Devote before rejoining the track. But moments later, AIX Racing’s Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak went off into the barriers at the same place to bring out an early Red Flag.

Running resumed with 32 minutes remaining of the session though another Red Flag quickly followed as Rodin’s Callum Voisin repeated Inthraphuvasak’s incident at Turn 1 to halt the session once more.

The field filtered back out onto track with 24 minutes to go with the skies growing darker still as Minì led the way with a 1:27.400 for PREMA.

Rain began to fall though just as the first flying laps began and it was Sami Meguetounif that this time found the barriers. A big snap of oversteer under braking for Turn 1 sent him sideways into the opening corner and the Trident driver couldn’t avoid making contact with the wall, putting him out of the session and causing another Red Flag.

With 13 minutes left of Practice, the green light was back on and drivers ventured back out fitted with the wet Pirelli tyres as the rain intensified, preventing any further improvements.

Qualifying is set to get underway at 11:05 on Friday morning with Group A featuring the even-numbered cars. Group B and the odd-numbered half of the grid will follow at 11:29 local time.