HERTZ Team JOTA’s #12 Porsche 963 topped the times for the second time today in the second of four FIA WEC Prologue test sessions at Qatar.
British racer Callum Ilott set the fastest time in the 300-minute night session, which was the first to feature all 37 cars out on track, his time a 1:40.541, 1.3 seconds quicker than the best time from the car in the first session earlier in the day.
It was a hugely productive session for JOTA, which ended up completing 247 laps across its two cars, which ended up first and third in the times.
Ferrari’s #50 499P ended up second, a tenth off thanks to Antonio Fuoco’s fastest time, a 1:40.673, with the sister #51 499P fourth.
Cadillac Racing’s V-Series.R also lapped quickly, Earl Bamber reeling off a 1:41.026 to complete the top five in the classification.
While there were no flashes of outright pace from either Toyota GR010 HYBRID, the Japanese team enjoyed a metronomic evening, completing the most laps of any team. The #8 toured the circuit 138 times, while the sister #7 completed 127 laps for a total of 265.
The #83 AF Corse privateer Ferrari 499P managed to set times in Session 2, after failing to make it to the track in the first session after declaring to the organisers that it would run. It ended up sixth in the times.
The fastest of the brand new Hypercars to the WEC for the 2024 season was the #15 BMW M Team WRT M Hybrid V8, which completed 113 laps and ended up ninth in the times.
Further down the order, it wasn’t a trouble-free session for the #99 Proton Competition Porsche, which brought out a red flag when Harry Tincknell ended up beached in the gravel trap.
Isotta Fraschini’s Tipo6-C meanwhile, ended up stopped in the fast lane at pit out. Driver Jean-Karl Vernay described the situation as “a misunderstanding for a very new team.”
In the LMGT3 ranks, the #91 Manthey EMA Porsche completed the most laps of any car, and the #59 United Autosports 720S LMGT3 EVO ended up running fastest.
The #59 was one of just six cars that opted to run in Session 1 and completed 40 laps, its fastest being a 1:54.480 from Gregoire Saucy on the 5.4km circuit.
Second in the times was the #54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari, which only managed 46 laps due to a clutch change. The work on the car was the result of a failed sensor which meant the car needed to be fired up multiple times after stopping, burning out the car’s original clutch.
The #87 AKKODIS ASP Team Lexus completed the top three.
It was a challenging first session for Proton’s pair of new Mustang GT3s. The two cars completed just 72 combined and ended up 15th and 18th in the times.
This is because the team opted to spend further time prepping the cars for running after its mechanics rushed to get the cars ready for scrutineering this morning.
The session was red-flagged three times, with the final stoppage called to protect a group of cats that found their way onto the circuit. Thankfully none of them were hit before the action was brought to a halt.
Track action continues tomorrow with Session 3 at 10:00 am local time in Qatar.
