Eriksson ( Motopark with VEB Dallara VW) was one of the big improvers in Day Two of the Cup , carving 1.6 seconds off his Day One qualifying time to post a 2min 12.032secs around the 6.12km Guia circuit.

Erkisson’s elevation to fastest in the session was assisted when red flags were raised and the session was brought to a premature end three minutes early.

Callum Ilott ( (SJM Theodore Racing by Prema Dallara Mercedes) had just set fastest time across the demanding second sector of the track when the session was halted.

Ilott was credited with fourth fastest on 2min 12.369sec , behind Daniel Ticktum (Motopark with VEB Dallara VW),2min12.142 sec and Ferdinand Habsurg (Carlin Dallara VW) , 2min12.284sec.

Eriksson’s time was a full 1.3seconds off last year’s fastest time in the second free practice session indicating the final dash to the flag would have been critical to reveal true pace had the practice gone full distance

Three crashes brought out red flags.

Pedro Piquet ((VAR Dallara VW) limped to the pits with his front left suspension collapsed after hitting a wall.

Mick Schumacher (SJM Theodore Racing by Prema Dallara Mercedes) went straight on into crash fencing at the top of Moorish Hill and Ralf Aron ( VAR Dallara VW) brought the session to a halt with another light crash.

All three cars are expected to make the start of the all-important second qualifying session.