This afternoon’s second 90-mins Free Practice session saw more clean action with not even a hint of a red flag stoppage.
The majority of teams covered at least 50 laps each in the sweltering conditions which saw ambient temperatures climb to 29.6 and track temps a sultry 37.8. Tomorrow is forecast to bring more brutally hot weather and there will be some serious stamina tested throughout the three classes in the four hour event.
Christian Klien set the fastest lap of the afternoon session, lapping in 1m24.145, just a shade slower than the morning best set by Michel Frey. Klien used a fresh set of Dunlop soft rubber to achieve the time but it was ultra-close at the front with the top three covered by just 0.064s.
Leading the chase of the Morgan-Judd was Franck Mailleux in the Race Performance ORECA-Judd, who set his best time on the final lap of the session. ‘Fast’ Franck was in line to be faster on his penultimate tour but had to take to the run-off area to avoid an errant Ferrari GTC car. Mailleux was summoned to see the race director but explained successfully that the 458 had been indicating to pit before a last minute and unexpected change of mind.
“It was very close and I had to avoid him because I took it as the indicator being on to mean he was coming in’,” said the Frenchman. “Apart from that it is looking very nice for us here. Michel (Frey) did the best time this morning and I was happy with what we have achieved. The traffic will be a nightmare in the race but I am sure we will deal with it ok. The Judd has been very strong for us today. Fantastic torque out of the slower corners, fantastic.”
The Thiriet by TDS Ligier-Nissan sat third with Tristan Gommendy peaking on a 1m24.209s. The lanky Frenchman explained to DSC that more work needed to be done on the so far un-tested high downforce bodywork package that makes its debut on the JS 2 chassis this weekend.
“We have a nice base and the start was good today. We have not tested since Le Mans and in fact we only had a day at Magny Cours before Le Mans so it is more remarkable what we have achieved so far,” said Gommendy. “We are all working together well and with our engineer (Jacques Morello) we are pretty confident tomorrow, even though we can see it is very close at this short circuit.”
Gommendy also gave an insight in to lapping traffic on the tight confines of Red Bull Ring, which is a very different prospect to La Sarthe of course.
“The visibility is very good for a car with a roof,” he said. “Traffic will be a very big part of the race tomorrow, so we just need to make sure we try and use everything we have to our advantage.”
Harry Tincknell set Jota Sport’s best time of Free Practice 2 and was attempting to put behind him a dream two months to concentrate on making 2014 a very special year indeed with a renewed ELMS title push.
“I have enjoyed it (the adulation of winning the LMP2 class at Le Mans), of course I have, but now we are very focused on the ELMS title,” said Tincknell. “We have actually re-focused. I feel proud to know that I am driving for the best LMP team in the world.”
Tincknell also dismissed the attempts to halt the straight-line speed of the LMGTE Ferraris, suggesting that not enough was being done. “I actually think it still dangerous. You can’t make a clear decision because the Ferraris at maximum speed are hard to make a judgement on, in terms of overtaking in to the braking areas. I couldn’t see much discernible difference out there today, but ultimately we have to get on with it.”
In the LMGTE class Andrea Bertolini continued to dominate in what is becoming his own personal fiefdom at the top of the class timing screens. The Italian holding a decent advantage over second placed Matt Griffin in the #55 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.
Local-ish (Austro-Belarussians?) Alexander Talkanista Snr and Jnr along with Pierre Kaffer were third fastest, just ahead of a surprise late interloper in the familiar shape of Richard Lietz, a late third driver addition to the Proton Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. The works Porsche driver arrived at the circuit a few minutes before the first Free Practice session this morning after getting the ‘red-eye’ plane from New York last night.
“It was a late call but I wanted to be here and thanks to the ACO for allowing me to race after a late arrival,” Lietz said, as he completed an all Austrian line-up. “I haven’t driven this spec Porsche for over two years but it felt very familiar as soon as I got in the car. I am helping the Felbermayer’s and happy to be here. It has started well and think we can do a good performance at our home track.”
And any plans to race again this season in the FIA WEC?
“No it was just Silverstone and Le Mans for me. In some ways it is a shame as I am third in the points table but that is the way it is,” he concluded.
Michael Meadows was delighted to deputise for the indisposed Ben Barker at Gulf Racing. Barker is competing in the Porsche Supercup at Hockenheim.
“I only got some laps in the first session as we had a driveshaft breakage in the second,” said Meadows. “It is great to be here with Gulf Racing and I hope I can make a good impression tomorrow in the race,” said the double Porsche Carrera Cup champion.
Making her debut in the ELMS today was Christina Nielsen, daughter of Aquila boss Lars-Erik. The ebullient Dane thrived in the #76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, relishing the higher levels of downforce, of which she is not used to. The 22 year old was also taking a breather from important exams in Marketing Management at Arhus University.
“It is a big contrast to my studying for sure. It is a hectic season as I am based in Europe but have been going to the US a lot this year,” she said. “But I have loved it today; the grip has been really eye-opening with this spec Porsche. You have to really learn to trust the levels of performance in the high-speed corners. I am happy with what I achieved and I am setting my expectations high for the race tomorrow afternoon.”
In GTC Kiril Ladygin ran out top in the #71 SMP Racing Ferrari, the Russian setting a series of consistently quick laps. Second in class was Johnny Cocker who despite an unspecified issue with the Team Russia by Barwell BMW Z4, found a clear lap.
“We were on the back foot clearly in terms of track time but we showed we have some good pace here,” said Cocker. “We are struggling for torque because of the weight of the car at present due to the BoP, however we are very good tyres and we are looking at triple stinting them so it could all work nice for us. We are due a result and the team have prepared a great car for us to make the most of.”
One familiar face perusing the paddock was Rodolfo Gonzalez, who looked quite forlorn and did not want to go in to details of his recent split with Murphy Prototypes. “I am here to speak to teams and hopeful because I am a silver categorised driver and am quite attractive because of that. I really enjoyed my experience with Murphy and hope I proved I can be quick,” said the downcast Venezuelan.
You will be able to follow all the action live from the Red Bull Ring tomorrow on www.twitter.com/dscracelive with qualifying due to kick-off at 09.30cet and the race at 15.00cet.
Sam Smith
