The #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing TS050 HYBRID topped the second Free Practice session of the 2018 6H Fuji weekend. The best time was set by Fernando Alonso, who reeled off a 1:23.973, it’s just under two seconds faster than Buemi’s session-topping time from FP1, which was set on a drying track.
Second on the timing and scoring was the sister #7 Toyota TS050, with a 1:25.068, a full second off Alonso’s pace-setting lap.
The fastest privateer runner in the session was the #3 Rebellion R-13 this time, with the best time coming from Frenchman Thomas Laurent. SMP’s #11 BR1, which was the fastest non-hybrid in the opening practice session, ended the day fourth, with a 1:25.801.
The sister #17 SMP BR1 meanwhile, ended up sixth, with Matevos Issakyan having an off at 100R, before limping back to the pits just before the session finished.
In LMP2, Signatech Alpine led the way, with a 1:30.410 from Andre Negrao, four tenths quicker than the first of the two Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECAs which ended up second and third.
It was a strong showing for Aston Martin Racing in GTE Pro this time round meanwhile, Nicki Thiim topping the times for the Britsh marque with a 1:37.659; which was the fastest GTE time of the meeting so far.
Behind the Dane in the times was the #67 Ford GT, with Harry Tincknell at the wheel, the Briton managing a 1:37.821. Davide Rigon put the #71 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE third with a 1:39.041. Making it four makes in the top four was Richard Lietz in the #91 Porsche.
In GTE Am it was a Dempsey Proton 1-2, with the #88 leading the #77. The #88 had a real moment coming through Netz Corner, spinning, and coming just inches from being collected by the #8 Toyota.
Unfortunately, the session didn’t go to plan and was shortended considerably due to further issues with kerbing.
After FP1 had to be red flagged for ‘sausage’ kerbs suffering damage at two separate corners, in Free Practice 2, the issues continued. The session had to be red flagged twice in 20 minutes, with one of the sections of kerbing at Turn 13 damaged twice after first a Ford GT, then the a Dempsey Proton Porsche clattered it.
The second impact left two sections of the kerb ripped up, leaving the mounting bolts exposed on the track. Under instructions from Race Director Eduardo Freitas a team of trackside marshals then removed all the kerbs at Turn 13 before the action went green again, the entire process taking 55 minutes.
DSC understands that there will be a meeting later today to discuss the matter ahead of tomorrow’s track action with an announcement at the end of the mildly extended FP2 that the usual 60 mins long FP3 will now be extended to 90 minutes.
FP3 will start at 9:30am local time.
