The #14 Porsche topped the times in the final 60 minutes of Free Practice ahead of this evening’s qualifying session but the real drama was at Audi where the #1 R18 e-tron quattro was absent for the session and will miss qualifying too as the car was discovered after Free Practice yesterday to have suffered near identical monocoque damage to that which was discovered post Shanghai.
“We believe the issue is to do with the kerbs again here, the circuit is very similar to the configuration at Shanghai,” said an Audi spokesperson.
The team had despatched two additional monocoques to enable the initial replacement of the #1 chassis and to give their usual at-track spare (the original spare was used to replace the #2 tub).
The #1 crew having already undertaken an overnight rebuild into yesterday were allowed to stay at the hotel overnight and to begin the second rebuild this morning. The car will also miss qualifying but will be permitted to start the race at the tail of the LMP1 field we believe, with Lucas di Grassi instructed to start the race after setting the fastest Free Practice time.
Back to Free Practice and it was the Jani/ Dumas combo that put in a second consecutive lap in successive sessions in the 1:43s (1:43.571)., that was well over a second clear of the #7 Toyota with the #20 Porsche and #2 Audi next up.
The Rebellions comprehensively outpaced the Lotus (which required a gearbox change yesterday) 1:47.436 the best from the #12 R-One.
LMP2 saw the #26 Ligier lead the session but then grind to a halt at the final corner late in the session, Julien Canal at the wheel as the team ran the car out of fuel.
That allowed Nic Minassian to take advantage in the Championship leading #27 SMP Oreca, the Michelins apparently liking the higher track temperatures this morning.
The #37 SMP Oreca finished the session third fastest, the Michelins apparently liking the higher daytime temperatures today.
GTE again saw a mixed group of Pro and AM cars contest fastest time, this after the #71 car was pulled to a halt at the final turn missing its front left wheel, James Calado abandoning the car with no apparent further damage.
That brought out a local caution which appears to have confused some runners with the #61, #81, #98 and #9 all apparently thinking that a Full Course yellow was in force, a trip to the Race Directors naughty step beckoned pos session.
The sister AF Corse car though topped the times in the hands of Gianmaria Bruni (1:51.812), overhauling both Richard Lietz’s efforts in the #91 Porsche and Pedro Lamy’s time in the leading Am Aston Martin (2:00.735).
The #92 Porsche meanwhile was in big trouble with a gearbox oil leak that the team were lucky to catch before a more dramatic conclusion.
