IDEC Sport’s Valerio Rinicella was fastest in Free Practice 1 ahead of the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, as the European Le Mans Series returns from its summer break.
The Genesis Magma Racing trajectory driver set a 2:02.110 on his first flying lap of the 90-minute session, a benchmark which would see the #18 ORECA 07 – Gibson LMP2 go unchallenged throughout.
It’s been a strong start to the weekend for the French squad, which also topped yesterday’s pit stop challenge qualifying, and is targeting its first podium of the season after three fourth-place finishes to begin the campaign.
The #29 Forestier Racing by Panis ORECA of Esteban Masson was second, 0.932 seconds back, with Jake Hughes rounding out the top three aboard the #25 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA.
Reshad De Gérus was fourth in the #34 Inter Europol Competition entry, ahead of the best of the LMP2 Pro/Am runners, the #20 Algarve Pro Racing ORECA of Malthe Jakobsen.
The Dane set a 2:03.262, putting him 0.655 seconds ahead of the #19 Rossa Racing by Virage ORECA, with the #30 Duqueine Team entry third in Pro/Am.
In LMP3, Louis Iglesias was fastest in the Imola-winning #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 – Toyota, with a 2:12.788.
The #4 DKR Engineering Ligier was second, 0.168 seconds behind, with the #8 Team Virage, #13 Inter Europol Competition and #35 Ultimate efforts completing a Ligier top-five lockout.
And in LMGT3, an early flyer from Sergio Sette Camara placed the #63 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 at the top of the timesheets.
The Brazilian recorded a 2:17.985 to end up 0.094 seconds clear of the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo, which in turn was only 0.002 seconds ahead of the #59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3.
The #75 Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2) LMGT3 and #50 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari completed the top five, with the championship-leading #33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R down in 13th in the 14-car class.
The session ran without any major interruptions, with the only Full Course Yellow triggered by an off for the #68 M Racing Ligier LMP3 of Thomas Imbourg, who ended up in the gravel at Les Combes on his out lap.
Elsewhere, multiple teams, particularly in LMP3, were found to be exploring the track limits too often, with several five minute stop-go penalties awarded for cars which committed at least five offences.
Free Practice 2 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps will take place at 9:00 CEST tomorrow. Before then, the 30-minute Bronze Collective Test will be held at 14:10 CEST this afternoon.
Image courtesy of European Le Mans Series/Focus Pack Media
