MRS headed the field in the second free practice session of the weekend, after Craig Dolby’s rapid time of 1:24.558. Like Free Practice 1, it was interrupted by a significant on-track incident, with another big player in the wars, Laurens Vanthoor.
Just a few minutes into the session the Belgian went off at the back end of the circuit, damaging the rear-end of the R8 significantly.
“He went wide on wet grass and went backwards into the armco,” WRT sporting director Pierre Dieudonne told DSC. “The impact affected the lower section of the car the gearbox rather than the wing. We’re stripping the car down now to inspect it and hopefully repair the damage.”
DSC was given confirmation before the session that the #84 HTP Bentley of Max Buhk and Vincent Abril would not be taking any further part in the meeting after Buhk’s hefty shunt in FP1 at the exit of Paddock Hill. Luckily the Continental wasn’t due to take part in the Nürburgring 24 Hours next week, instead it was due to race at the Silverstone Endurance Series round. We’re hoping that the #1 car doesn’t suffer the same fate, especially after the car didn’t take part in either race at Nogaro following a pre-race accident.
Craig Dolby went fastest early in the session, but as the times tumbled Sergio Jimenez would leapfrog the Nissan with a 1:25.534 at the halfway mark.
Those times would be bettered in the closing minutes though, with Dolby going quicker again with what would eventually be the fastest time. The #2 and #4 WRT Audis, followed by the Pro-Am leading Triple Eight BMW would take second, third and fourth respectively, pushing the Brazilian car further down to fifth by session end.
It was once again extremely close at the top with Christopher Mies’ best time in the #2 car just a tenth off the GT-R.
Stephen Kilbey
