Porsche Penske Motorsport’s Laurens Vanthoor set the fastest time in free practice 2 at Le Mans, with a time of 3:28.878 in the #6 Porsche 963 Hybrid, despite missing out on tomorrow’s Hyperpole session.
The first night session of this year’s Le Mans is of paramount importance, as teams get to grips with managing traffic under the cover of darkness. Rookies are also required to complete three timed laps across FP2 and FP4 to be permitted to drive at night during the race this weekend.
Second overall was the #51 Ferrari 499P Hybrid, with James Calado setting a time just 0.347 seconds off the pace of Vanthoor’s Porsche. In third was the #5 Porsche 963 Hybrid machine, with Dane Cameron setting a time of 3:29.307, despite coming to a halt at the end of pit-lane briefly with just over an hour remaining. Just before Alexander Sims in the Action Express Racing #311 Cadillac V-Series.R Hybrid came slowly back to pit-lane after sustaining damage to the front right corner of his machine. The #311 crew finished seventh overall, with Jack Aitken setting a time of 3:29.846. Action Express have qualified 12th for their first Le Mans this weekend.
4th overall was the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R Hybrid. Earl Bamber set a time of 3:29.545 for the Chip Ganassi squad. In 5th was the first of the Toyotas with the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid setting a time of 3:29.624 courtesy of Kamui Kobayashi. Hertz Team Jota, who have missed out on tomorrow’s Hyperpole session, finished in sixth. Will Stevens set a time of 3:29.784 in the #38 Porsche 963 Hybrid.
1st in LMP2 was Mirko Bortolotti in the #63 Prema Oreca-07 Gibson machine with a time of 3:36.863. In second place was the #22 United Autosports outfit, just 0.216 seconds behind thanks to a lap set by Filipe Albuquerque. Third in the LMP2 class was Pietro Fittipaldi in the #28 Jota Oreca-07 Gibson with a time of 3:37.855.
In the LMP2 pro/am sub-category the pace was set by DKR Engineering. Maxime Martine set a time of 3:38.275 in the #43 Oreca-07 Gibson, good enough for 5th place in LMP2 overall. The second LMP2 car was the #14 of Nielsen Racing, with Mathias Beche setting a time of 3:38.330. The third pro/am LMP2 car was the #923 Oreca-07 Gibson of Team Turkey. Dries Vanthoor set a time of 3:39.036.
In GTE-Am, top honours went to the #74 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo of Kessel Racing. Kei Cozzolino set a time of 3:53.796 ahead of the #60 Iron Lynx Porsche 911 RSR – 19 with Alessio PicarielloI, who set a time of 3:54.080. Third in GTE-Am was the #56 Porsche 911 RSR – 19 of Project 1 – AO. Their driver Matteo Cairoli lapped the Circuit de La Sarthe in a time of 3:54.172.
The Garage 56 Hendrick Motorsports Nascar entry continued to impress, finishing faster than the GTE-Am pack. Mike Rockenfeller posted an impressive time of 3:51.904 in the #24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Action at the Le Mans centenary resumes tomorrow with Free Practice 3, which goes to green at 3PM local time.
