Kamui Kobayashi and Toyota increase the pace in FP3

If SMP Racing had dominated EL1 yesterday morning on a dry track, the return to similar conditions this Friday in the Ardennes saw Toyota seriously increase the tempo.

The TS050 Hybrid n°7 Kamui Kobayashi, associated with José Maria Lopez and Mike conway, has signed the reference time of the session in 1’54″105, more than eight tenths faster than the 2018 pole.

The No. 8 Toyota Buemi - Alonso – Nakajima fails in second place at 2″246. Stoffel Vandoorne was the fastest of the others with the BR1 n°11 – SMP Racing, in 1’57”475.

Jean-Eric Vergne gave the Aurus 01 n°26 – G-Drive Racing the best time in the LM P2 category in 2’01”143, a time also faster than the 2018 pole signed by Signatech Alpine. The Frenchman precedes the two Oreca 07 n°37 and n°38 – Jackie Chan DC Racing.

In GTE Pro, the duel seen last year between Ford and Porsche could be redesigned, since Gianmaria Bruni (Porsche 911 RSR no. 91) waited until the last five minutes to set the best lap in the category in 2’13”722, 223 thousandths ahead of the No. 67 Ford GT of Harry Tincknell.

Note that Gianmaria Bruni stopped at the entrance to the pitlane after the checkered flag, and had to be pushed to his box.

The #911 Porsche 92 RSR of Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen and the second #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla follow in the standings. Porsche takes the double in GTE Am with the No. 911 and No. 88 77 RSR from Dempsey-Proton Racing, Matteo Cairoli having set the benchmark in 2'15"190.

Qualifying will begin at 15 p.m. in Belgium, with the weather currently not forecasting any showers over the Ardennes.

EL3 classification