24 Hours of Le Mans – Free Practice 2: Toyota regains the lead
After the disappointment of qualifying, Toyota, with car #8, was the fastest crew during this first night session. Some cars drove faster than in free practice 1.
A slight drop in intensity. After some crazy qualifications with the big surprise BMW, the drivers were much calmer during this first night session. Indeed, there’s no need to be at 100%, this session is about finding the right feeling ahead of the race.
On the first completed laps, Robert Kubica, aboard the Ferrari #83, was about two seconds off the qualifying times (3’27”998). The McLaren number 95 from United Autosport didn’t get to enjoy the last moments of sunlight. The car was slowing down on the last section of the track and had to return to its pit.
An Isotta Fraschini in diesel mode
Sébastien Buemi aboard the Toyota #8 has taken the lead by driving half a second faster than the yellow private Ferrari (3’27”474). The Cadillac number 311 and Toyota number 7 were slow to leave the pits. The two Hypercars only hit the track after 30 minutes of the session, once night had fallen.
It is also the time it took for the Isotta Fraschini to find an Hypercar rhythm. Because in this first part of the session, the Italian car was evolving in the middle of the LMP2. This category was also, at that moment, led by the United Autosport 22 (3’36”551). In GT3, Team WRT dominated the first half-hour of the session. The #46 car was ahead of its sister car by seven tenths (3’59”104).
After starting more than slowly, Antonio Serravalle (Isotta Fraschini) found an interesting pace for his car. He managed to achieve a time faster than the Lamborghini #19 (3’34”381). A time just four tenths off the crew’s best time in FP1. But the green car quickly regained the lead.
Faster teams than in FP1
Unlike the first free practice session, incidents on the track were very rare. Only a few brief yellow flags were waved. No slow zone or neutralization is to be noted in the first of the two hours of running. The AO by TF caused the first slow zone 25 minutes before the end of this night session.
BMW N°15 had a little scare fifteen minutes before the end. Dries Vanthoor went straight at the Indianapolis braking point and hit the tire wall. The Belgian was still able to bring his Hypercar back to the pits.
In terms of performance, the hierarchy has not changed in Hypercar. The Toyota #8 kept the lead until the end of the session. In GT3, the Ford #88 from Proton Competition led its category. And, by the way, drove faster than during the first session. Just like D’Station Racing or the Iron Dames. Finally, in LMP2, Cool Racing dominated the field by leaving the competition more than a second behind (3’35”386).
A few seconds before the end of the session, Porsche number 12 hit the tire wall. This caused a red flag. Toyota No. 8, which was improving its sectors, saw its attempt aborted.
