Estre puts Porsche on top in eventful second WEC practice at Spa
The No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 driven by Kevin Estre was the fastest during a frequently-interrupted FP2 session at Spa on Thursday with a (...)
The No. 6 Penske Porsche 963 driven by Kevin Estre was the fastest during a frequently-interrupted FP2 session at Spa on Thursday with a 2m01.475s. It is the first time this season that a Porsche has topped a practice session.
The No. 50 Ferrari 499P shared by Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen finished up the day second with a 2m01.566s, putting the Qatar winners 0.1s off the fastest time. That Ferrari did, however, experience issues with its front splitter and went off at Blanchimont in the final stages of the session.
The No. 20 Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 driven by René Rast and Robin Frijns claimed third, 0.2s slower than the Ferrari.
The top five was completed by the No. 12 Hertz Team Jota Cadillac V Series R (2m01.876s) and the No.5 Penske Porsche 963 (2m01.984s)
Meanwhile, in LMGT3, Zacharie Robichon was fastest in the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 (2:18.326). He was less than 0.1s ahead of the No. 87 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC F LMGT3 driven by Petru Umbrarescu, Clemens Schmid and Jose Maria Lopez (2m18.378s).
The No. 54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 LMGT3 driven by Thomas Flohr, Francesco Castelacci and Davide Rigon took third place, half a second behind the fastest LMGT3 with its 2m18.881s.
The top five was completed by the No. 10 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 (2m18.931s) and the No.88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang LMGT3 (2m18.998s).
But the big headlines from the session came from three red flags, which led to lengthy delays and an extension to the session.
The first stoppage came at the very start of FP2 when Antonio Giovinazzi went off at Raidillon in the No. 51 Ferrari 449P. The car suffered rear bodywork damage, but it was repaired on time to complete a few laps before the checkered flag was shown.
Moments after the session resumed, a second red flag was waved when Stephen Grove went off at that same spot in the No. 60 Iron Lynx Mercedes AMG LMGT3. The front of his car was heavily damaged.
Finally, with less than 40 minutes left on the clock, Tom Gamble went off and hit the barriers at Pouhon in the No. 007 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Valkyrie. All three drivers were unhurt.
