After 99 Racing topped the times in the first Free Practice session of the Asian Le Mans Series finale weekend earlier today, it would be the Jordanian-flagged team’s title rival – Crowdstrike Racing by APR – that would lead the way in FP2.
Dane Malthe Jakobsen set the best time in the #4 ORECA, a 1:41.337, which was within a tenth of Louis Deletraz’s best from the first session.
An early 1:41.670 flyer from Toby Sowery would be good enough for second on the leaderboard in the #25 ORECA, making it a 1-2 in the times for Algarve Pro Racing.
Completing the overall top three was the #83 AF Corse ORECA, which was also quick in FP1, after Matthieu Vaxiviere set a 1:41.6.
The #22 Proton Competition ORECA ended up fourth, ahead of the #47 COOL example which has undergone a full chassis change following its heavy Dubai shunt.
The 99 Racing ORECA would end up eight tenths off in sixth.
Unfortunately there was still no sign of the #55 Proton Competition ORECA in the session. The car has been undergoing an engine change all afternoon and was not ready in time to join the session. Work continues on the car as Saturday Qualifying approaches.
LMP3 saw CD Sport top the class with Fabien Lavergne’s 1:49.318 that was half a second faster than COOL Racing’s FP1 pace-setter Manuel Espírito Santo.
In GT the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 which ran fastest in Free Practice 1 proved to be quick again this evening, though it would be the GR Racing Ferrari would top the times with the sun down and the floodlights turned on.
Riccardo Pera set the car’s best lap, a 1:52.771. It was less than a tenth quicker than Davide Rigon who would end the day second fastest in the #21.
For Ferrari it was a 1-2 at the top of the timing screens, with the #82 AF Corse 296 finishing the night fourth, making it three cars from the ‘Prancing Horse’ in the top four. The #77 D’Station Racing Aston Martin Vantage split the trio with a 1:52.924 from Casper Stevenson to go third.
Down in ninth the #33 Herberth Motorsport Porsche’s run was notable, as Tim Heinemann completed 21 of the car’s 36 laps. The German DTM driver is another late addition to the entry list, replacing Morris Schuring.
Schuring was one of a number of drivers who tested the orange Project 1 BMW earlier this week at Yas Marina. Unfortunately the second Project 1 M4 will not race despite the German team’s efforts to sign up three drivers for the final eight hours of racing.
Elsewhere, the session was briefly red flagged early on for a spin for the Leipert Lamborghini.
Next up is Qualifying at Yas Marina, which is set to get underway at 10:45 am local time. It will be broadcast for free, live on the Asian Le Mans Series YouTube channel.
Image courtesy of Asian Le Mans Series
