Jolyon Palmer set a blistering pace around Germany's Nurburgring as he claimed an excellent eighth fastest in this morning's (Friday) GP2 free practice session.

The 2010 FIA Formula Two Championship runner-up adapted well to the challenging German circuit and set impressive pace from the start of the session. The 20-year-old went fifith fastest with his first flying lap. His blistering pace continued, as he finished the session in an excellent eighth position, just 1.232 seconds behind leading driver Romain Grosjean.

With the drivers blessed with dry conditions the GP2 field took to the track as soon as the session began. The Southwater racer grew in confidence as the session continued and with 20 minutes reaming he breifly held the third fastest lap time, only two tenths of a second behind Jules Bianchi with Grosjean topping the timesheets. He was unable to better his time and the lap was good enough to finish the free practice session in an impressive eighth position, only half a second adrift of second placed driver Daniel Clos. Arden International team mate Josef Kral finished the session in 19th position.

A pleased Jolyon said: "It was a good session, I still didn't manage to hook up a great lap but I'm very happy with eighth position and hopefully I can continue this form into qualifying."

Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2011 GP2 Series take place at the Nürburgring from 22-24 July with full coverage available on Jolyon's official website. Coverage is also available via Eurosport and on Jolyon's Facebook page. Qualifying will begin at 15:55pm local time.

Nurburgring practice results:

1 R. Grosjean, DAMS, 1.40.484s
2 D. Clos, Racing, +0.738s
3 J. Bianchi, ART, +0.842s
4 L. Filippi, Nova, +0.846s
5 C. Pic, Addax, +0.927s
6 E. Gutierrez, +942s
7 F. Leimer, Rapax, +1.132s
8 J. Palmer, Arden,+1.232s
9 S. Coletti, Trident, +1.264s
10 A. Parente, Racing, +1.350s