Phil Hanson lapped fastest in the first practice session of the ELMS’ 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps weekend, setting a 2:05.030 in the #22 United Autosports ORECA.
Hanson has high hopes coming into this weekend’s ELMS race. Fresh from a win at the 4 Hours of Aragon last month, Hanson is looking to add to his string of standout results in LMP2 at the Belgian circuit, which includes four wins in five ELMS starts since 2018 and two WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps wins in four years.
Young Dane Malthe Jakobsen came closest to Hanson, with a 2:05.060 in the #37 COOL Racing ORECA, which put him fastest in LMP2 Pro/Am.
DragonSpeed’s ORECA completed the top three, thanks to a 2:05.099 from Sebastien Montoya. Further back the #20 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA ended up fourth, ahead of the #43 Inter Europol 07 Gibson that was second fastest in LMP2.
A 2:12.789 from Antonie Doquin was the fastest time in LMP3. The lap from the Frenchman, in the Racing Spirit of Leman Ligier, ended up less than a tenth faster than the #17 COOL Racing JS P320. The #13 Inter Europol Ligier ended up third.
Of the 12 cars in LMP3, 11 set times, the WTM by Rinaldi Duqueine M30 was the only car of the 41 in the field that didn’t set a time.
In GTE, Iron Lynx put Porsche atop the times. The #60 911 RSR 19 ended up as the only car to complete a sub-2:17 tour of the Spa circuit, courtesy of Matteo Cairoli. His 2:16.741 was half a second quicker than the Formula Racing Ferrari that slotted in second, and the JMW 488 GTE that ended up third.
Danish team GMB Motorsport set the fastest Aston Martin time, Nicki Thiim reeling off a 2:17.618 to go fourth fastest in the class.
Free Practice 2 is set to get underway at 10:15 local time tomorrow morning.
