The first track action of the 2014 FIA WEC season saw all the 27 cars present on track in dry but blustery conditions, and proved several things.
In terms of initial pace it proved that the factory LMP1s are pretty evenly matched as the teams balance their data, fuel flow, engine and hybrid power, and the optimum number of sandbags or this early running.
The session was led at various times by both Audis, Anthony Davidson coming close to topping both in the #8 Toyota, with finally the #14 Porsche topping the times in a 1:44.042 in the hands of Marc Lieb, the six factory cars separated by 1.1 seconds with Nick Heidfeld’s best effort keeping the #12 Rebellion Lola within 1.1 seconds until Lieb’s late session effort sealed the difference at 1.5 seconds.
The four LMP2s present ended the session separated by 1.5 seconds after a late session effort from SMP Racing’s Antonn Ladygin sliced a full second off the 4th fastest, #37 Oreca Nissan’s deficit.
Up front Olivier Pla topped the times in the #26 G-Drive Morgan Nissan – a 1:51.004 a good seven tenths after than Nick Minassian in the #27 SMP Oreca Nissan.
GTE Pro saw a Porsche 1,2, and a Ferrari 3,4 – Nick Tandy banging in a 1:58.981 in the #91 911 RSR, a full 1.5 seconds up on the sister car with Bruni’s #51 AF Corse 458 third fastest and Alvaro Parente just three tenths back putting the #52 RAM Racing Ferrari ahead of the #71 ferrari and both Aston Martins.
Fifth fastest GT in the session though was the fastest of the GTE Am runners, Sam Bird putting down an early marker in the #81 AF Corse Ferrari, 8 tenths faster than Klaus Bachler in the #88 Proton Porsche.
