EL2 – Porsche hits the nail on the head in Austin

La deuxième séance d’essais libres des 6 Heures du Circuit des Amériques a été dominée par les deux Porsche. Mais surtout, les deux 919 Hybrid ont repoussé la meilleure des deux Toyota à 0 »959. Un écart que l’on espère voir se réduire dès demain, au risque d’assister à un scénario similaire à celui des 6 Heures de Mexico.

The reference time is to be credited to the No. 1 entrusted to Jani-Lotterer-Tandy in 1’45”860. Bamber-Bernhard-Hartley’s #2 follows at 0”541. If the TS050 Hybrid n°7 of Conway-Kobayashi-Lopez has a deficit of 0”959, No. 8 is even further behind, at 2”979.

The Vaillante Rebellion team dominated the LM P2, the No. 31 of Canal-Cheers-Senna (1’54”601) preceding No. 13 of Beche-Piquet Jr-Heinemeier Hansson (+0”169). The top three is completed by the No. 07 Oreca 26 of G-Drive Racing (+0”442), which is ahead of theAlpine A470 n°36 (+0 »535). The #07 Oreca 38 of Jackie Chan DC Racing is very discreet for the moment. Championship leaders, Oliver Jarvis, Ho-Pin Tung and Thomas Laurent are in fact only eighth, at 1”3.

Aston Martin took the lead in GTE Pro thanks to the No. 95 of Sorensen-Thiim. Thanks to a time of 2'04"023, the beautiful Englishwoman beat the #67 Ford GT of Priaulx-Tincknell. The others are pushed back more than a second. Next in the ranking are the two Porsche 911 RSRs and the Ferrari 488 GTE n°51.

Aston Martin scored a double blow as the No. 98 Vantage GTE of Dalla Lana-Lamy-Lauda confirmed its good form by once again dominating the GTE Am in 2'05"935. Its championship rival, the No. 911 Porsche 77 RSR from Dempsey-Proton Racing, is only third, preceded by the No. 488 Ferrari 61 GTE from Clearwater Racing.

See you tomorrow at 17 p.m. (French time) for the third free practice session then at 22:05 p.m. for qualifying.