After Porsche ran fastest in the opening practice session of the IMSA weekend at Watkins Glen yesterday, it was BMW Team RLL’s turn to set the pace in Practice 2 this morning ahead of Qualifying.
The best lap came from Philipp Eng in the #24 M Hybrid V8, a 1:33.725, which was also the weekend’s fastest lap so far.
In the session, Eng’s time was 0.175 up on the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963 which ended up second.
The two Cadillacs took third and fourth in the classification, with the #01 from Ganassi a hundredth of a second quicker than the #31 Whelen Cadillac from Action Express.
JDC Miller’s Porsche completed the top five after a hot lap from Richard Westbrook.
Further down the order, it was another encouraging session for Iron Lynx’s Lamborghini SC63. The car completed 42 laps and set the seventh fastest time, a 1:34.487, putting it ninth in the combined practice times ahead of its second IMSA race start on Sunday.
Unfortunately, there was one drama to report in the session, with the #25 RLL BMW bringing the session to an early end with a shunt with Connor De Phillippi at the wheel. According to RACER.com’s Richard James, De Phillippi’s off came at Turn 1, the American hitting the barriers on driver’s right.
That wasn’t the only incident in the session as the Sean Creech Ligier JS P217 ended up in the barriers at Turn 9.
LMP2 meanwhile, was topped by the #74 Riley ORECA, which also set fast times in FP1. Felipe Fraga was behind the wheel and reeled off the car’s best lap, a 1:35.269.
It was a particularly rapid time from the Brazilian, quicker than the #5 Proton Competiton GTP class Porsche and more than half a second faster than the #04 Crowdstrike Racing by APR Gibson-powered 07 which finished up second in class.
In the GTD Pro ranks it was the #1 BMW M4 GT3 from Paul Miller Racing that would finish the second and final practice run on top.
Madison Snow’s 1:44.907 was less than a tenth up on the #12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus, which was the second fastest GT3 car and topped GTD. Parker Thompson’s lap in the RC F GT3 – a 1:44.930 – was one of only two laps under 1:45.
Second in GTD Pro and third in the GTD combined times was the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari, its best tour a 1:45.010.
Qualifying is next, starting at 3:30pm ET.
Images courtesy of IMSA/LAT & Jack Webster
