WEC - Lopez Takes Top Spot as Wet Track Continues to Hamper Pace in Practice
Jose-Maria Lopez set the fastest time in the second Free Practice session in China, the Argentine setting a 2m02.259 lap late in the 90-minute session. The tricky track conditions caused by the rain meant that several cars slid off the track during the session, with the fastest time set by the no7 Toyota was nearly eight seconds slower than the earlier practice session.
Kazuki Nakajima set the best time in the no8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid, the Japanese driver’s lap of 2m02.504 just 0.245s behind Lopez and just 0.169s ahead of the no3 Rebellion R13-Gibson of Thomas Laurent.
Ferrari headed the LMGTE Pro category, with reigning world champion James Calado claiming the top spot in FP2 with a 2m14.315s lap, despite an early trip into the gravel at Turn 2 which brought out a Full Course Yellow. BMW continued to show strong pace in China, with Antonio Felix da Costa finishing the session with a 2m14.964 in the no82 BMW M8, just 0.019s ahead of Maxime Martin in the no97 Aston Martin Vantage.
The no37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca of Jazeman Jaafar was once again at the top of the LMP2 time sheets, the Malaysian’s 2m10.869 lap out pacing the no36 Signatech Alpine Matmut A470 of Andre Negrao by just 0.027s. The no28 TDS Racing Oreca of Matthieu Vaxiviere was third quickest, despite losing a wheel and causing the second and final Full Course Yellow of Free Practice 2.
The no54 Spirit of Race Ferrari was the best of the nine cars, with Giancarlo Fisichella topping the time sheets with a 2m16.835s and it was a Ferrari 1-2 when Matt Griffin went second quickest in the no61 Clearwater Racing F488, the Irishman finishing just 0.043s behind the Italian.
Free Practice 3 will take place tomorrow morning at 09h50 (local) / 02h50 (CET).
CLICK HERE for the result from Free Practice 2
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