Leaders feeling the pressure?
Free Practice 2 was cloudier and breezier and saw a sprinkling of raindrops, but not enough to prevent the times continuing to tumble.
With overtaking so difficult on this technical track, teams face a dilemma between allowing their slower drivers as much seat time as possible to learn and improve on the one hand, but on the other allowing their fastest drivers enough time to bag a quick and clear lap and the necessary data to maximise their chances in Saturday morning’s all-too-brief qualifying session.
Jota Sport had a clear statement of intent as Oliver Turvey was sent out first on the green light and posted a 1:38.871 on his first flier, 2.3 seconds up on anyone else’s. This was improved to a 1:37.448 on his second flier, the fastest time of the day already.
Christian Klien was quicker than he was this morning within the first ten minutes of the session, fourth with a 1:39.730 behind Turvey, Hartley and Ragues. The team had a mystery refuelling problem in the first session and are hoping it won’t recur.
Both GT classes took much longer to work themselves under the times set in Free Practice 1 but RAM Racing were more prominent this time, having made progress with tyre compounds and gearbox ratios since the morning. Griffin was fastest for a while with a 1:46.557 until Tandy reeled off a string of laps in the mid 1:45’s, ending with a 1:45.393.
Vernay too nipped ahead of #52 in the IMSA Porsche with a 1:45.899. Mowlem took over #52 and put the Ferrari back through with a 1:45.703.
TDS had a steady start again but then sprang from fourth to quickest overall with around 20 minutes to go, a 1:37.254. Klien improved to third for Morand, just half a second off the best time.
Into the last ten minutes and it seemed that the team managers were starting to load eggs into the basket marked ‘qualifying position’. Bertolini set a 1:45.146 then a 1:44.887 to go top of GTE and extend the class lead respectively and Turvey, Beche, Pantiaci and Niederhauser were all sent out too.
1:37.168 was the first improvement at the very top and it was for the Signatech Alpine, but Panciatici hadn’t set any best sectors doing it. Clearly with this level of competition, such a lap would never last long.
It didn’t. Hartley’s next pass of the line stopped the clock on a 1:37.001, but again there were no best sectors…
Beche’s next was a 1:36.986, this time each sector almost, but not quite as good as the best yet.
Hartley and Panciatici then started hitting the purple highnotes on the timing screen, but Hartley’s middle sector was ruined whereas Panciatici wrapped up a solid lap of a 1:36.634, the best of the day. Unfortunately, he was straight off to the stewards after the session to discuss the possibility that he once again overtook during a yellow flag.
In GTE there was just enough time for another surprise as Gunnar Jeanette appeared second in class with a 1:45.392 and Bertolini banged in another 44.8, this time a 1:44.844. So JMW headed RAM’s #53, the #77 Proton, #52 RAM, #55 AF Corse, #67 IMSA, #75 Prospeed and the rather distant #54 AF Corse.
GTC so far is too tight to call between #69 and #62. The BMW doesn’t seem to be there on pace even with Millroy at the wheel, but the Ecurie Ecosse boys are canny strategists and rarely make mistakes, so they can’t be ruled out either. Frolov paired SMP’s #72 up with sister car #69 right at the end of the session with a 1:46.849 against Shaitar’s 1:46.460, SMP Racing’s quick Russians dealing the Italians at AF Corse a further little blow to morale in the championship battle.
Soheil Ayari pushed hard right at the end to go fastest of the day in PC with a 1:40.659 and Catsburg was a surprising 1.3 seconds adrift. Chatin allowed Hirsch the lion’s share of the seat time and #49 was third in class, a situation Chatin will be sure to resolve come qualifying tomorrow.
0.7 seconds covers the top six in P2 but it is the usual suspects who look most likely to challenge for pole unless conditions are more unpredictable. There is rain forecast for tomorrow, which could throw things wide open. They finished today in the order Signatech Alpine, Jota Sport, Murphy Prototypes, Thiriet by TDS, Race Performance, Morand, Boutsen Ginion, SMP.
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