This report has been prepared by Stephen Kilbey using the ACO’s latest “paid-for” mobile phone and iPad app, which includes live video feed. More on the significance of this – and a review of the two products, later . . .
Kazuki Nakajima and Alex Wurz put the #7 Toyota TS040 on pole position for the first round of the WEC at Silverstone, setting a time of 1:42.774, just 0.005 faster than Loic Duval and Tom Kristensen in the #1 Audi R18.
While in GT, AF Corse took pole in both the Pro and AM classes – proving that the 458 is the car to beat in both the ELMS and WEC series.
Kristensen looked to put Audi on pole early in the LMP session, after putting up a 1:42.477 and a 1:42.773. But when Duval got in the car, he couldn’t match Kristensen’s consistency, slipping up on his second lap posting a 1:43.020 – giving the teams behind a chance to pounce as the average dropped to 1:42.779.
Nakajima did just that, and set two constant times of 1:42.509 and 1:42.933 in his stint bringing the car’s average down enough to pip the #1 Audi to the pole. Behind, the #14 Porsche 919 of Neel Jani and Romain Dumas were able to secure the Weissach based team a spot in the top three, just three tenths back from the top two.
“I didn’t know about the time difference [between pole and the #1 Audi in second],” admitted Nakajima. “I went for an extra lap, maybe it was too much, but I managed to set P1. It’s only one position, but it’s good for us, and gives us extra motivation for tomorrow. The car felt good. We’ve worked on the car through every session, and were happy with P2 before the last lap.”
Further down the order, André Lotterer in the #2 Audi recovered from a shaky performance from Benôit Tréluyer to claim fourth, with the #8 Toyota and #20 Porsche making up the rest of the LMP1 hybrid cars in fifth and sixth respectively.
Rebellion Racing – the sole runners in the LMP1L class ended up predictably seventh [#13] and eighth [#12] overall, but with their best time only 1.5 seconds off the pace of the pole-sitting Toyota.
“Today we can be very happy. It’s important for us for tomorrow. It’s my first six-hour race, and my first time sharing a car with other guys. We’ll have to see how it goes. I can still improve on my driving style – I still have a lot to learn,” said Fabio Leimer, who is driving the #13 this weekend.
LMP2 saw G-Drive Racing take the pole with an average of 1:49.156 ahead of the delayed KCMG squad and the pair of SMP Racing Orecas – their #37 finishing third and #27 fourth. SMP struggled for pace throughout, and didn’t break the 1:50 barrier with either car.
In the GT session AF Corse took a commanding stance in both classes. Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni took the Pro class pole with a combined time of 1:59.125. Porsche Team Manthey finished second and third in class with the #91 and #92, but were within six tenths of the lead 458.
“I think it is a very good paring, with me and Toni (Vilander) in the car,” said Bruni.
“We made good improvements since Free Practice 3, and the changes went in the right direction. My run was second [quickest], but already the average was better. Toni then did his fastest laps. It’s great to start this season this way.”
It’s Aston Martin Racing who struggled in the session, their best car finishing sixth in the overall GTE standings but crucially behind the pole-sitter in GTE AM. Stefan Mucke and Darren Turner may have finished with a combined time of 1:59.954, only eight tenths off AF Corse’s pole time, but in a class as competitive as Pro, it will be tough for them during the race.
AF Corse also took pole in GTE Am, with Michele Rugolo and Sam Bird finishing the session fifth overall in the GTE standings after combining for a stellar time of 1:59.932, a second clear of the competition.
The all-Danish #98 Aston Martin came in second in the Am class, with the #61 AF Corse Ferrari rounding out the top three.
Stephen Kilbey
