The day’s final Free Practice session ended with a repeat of FP1, the only change being the order in which the Porsche LMP Team’s 919s ended in the timing sheets. Neel Jani in the #1 Porsche set a 1:45.860, nearly a second quicker than the sister car. The #2’s best lap came at the hands of Earl Bamber who set a 1:46.401.
This time the top three in LMP1 was rounded out by the #7 Toyota TSO50 who thanks to Kamui Kobayahsi came back home with a 1:46.819, a full two seconds quicker than the team’s sister car.
In LMP2 more new faces came across the top of the timing sheets with Vaillante Rebellion being the first LMP2 team of the weekend to find success with both of its cars. The #31 led by Bruno Senna clocked in a 1:54.601, around eight tenths quicker than the fastest time in FP1. The sister car to the #31 – the #13 – came home in second with a 1:54.770 being set by Mathias Beche.
The only top runner in the top three in both opening sessions in LMP2 was the #26 G-Drive Racing Oreca, Alex Lynn slotting the Russian-flagged team in third after again setting the car’s fastest time of the session, a 1:55.043.
GTE Pro was much closer in FP2, this time Aston Martin Racing’s #95 got the best of the class with a 2:04.023 run by Nicki Thiim. Following closely behind was the championship leading #67 with Andy Priaulx and Harry Ticknell coming home second with a 2:04.097.
Rounding out the top three in GTE Pro was the #92 Porsche 911 RSR which clocked in 32 laps, more than double its total FP1, during which it had a full engine change. Kevin Estre set the car’s best time, after completing zero laps in the first session.
Finally, GTE Am was once again topped by the #98 Aston Martin Racing Vantage which set a 2:05.935 with Pedro Lamy behind the wheel. That time was good enough to beat the #71 AF Corse Ferrari that ended the session at the bottom of GTE Pro. The #61 Clearwater Racing Ferrari came home second, with a 2:07.503 after a tough FP1 that saw the Singaporean outfit at the bottom of the timing sheets.
GTE Am’s championship-leading car, the #77 Dempsy-Proton Porsche, rounded out the top three with a 2:07.852.
Track action begins again tomorrow morning at 10:00 local time with Free Practice 3.
