FP2 without drama – almost

The second training of the day for FIA World Endurance Championship race at Sebring International Raceway was done without major drama.

At least when the session started.

DragonSpeed #31 lost their left rear wheel, just two corners after they went out of the pits. It resulted in a Full Course Yellow, so that they could send a recovery vehicle to remove the car. Luckily, the other drivers managed to avoid the tire, that continued to roll over the track, right after the super fast Turn 1. When #31 had been removed and transported back to the pits, they could come back to the track and drove 18 laps.

But when the training was under way, Toyota Gazoo Racing was fast to claim the front row again. This time with Jose Maria Lopez in #7 as the fastest man, in front of Kazuki Nakajima in #8. SMP Racing #17 with Stephane Sarrazin was third fastest, followed by Brendon Hartley in sister car #11. Rebellion #3 and #1 drove themselves ahead of DragonSpeed #10, that was unfortunately still couldn’t keep up, four seconds after the fastest Toyota – exactly like they did in FP1 earlier.

Toyota Gazoo Racing #7
Photo: JJ Media

In LMP2, Jackie Chan DC Racing #38 with Stephane Richelmi set the fastest time, in front of Signatech Alpine Matmut #36 with Nicolas Lapierre and TDS Racing #28 with Loic Duval. After driving the fastest in FP1, Racing Team Nederland #29 closed the LMP2 field this time with only eight laps, compared to around 40 laps that the other cars did.

Jackie Chan DC Racing #38
Photo: JJ Media

Aston Martin Racing #97 was again the quickest in the GTE Pro class, but this time with Alex Lynn. Ford Chip Ganassi Team UK #67 once again was second fastest, and once again with Harry Tincknell, while their sister car #66 with Stefan Mücke was third. After a so-so first training, Ferrari finally woke up, with AF Corse #41 setting the fourth fastest time, while BMW Team MTEK was unfortunately still ending up at the back of the field.

Aston Martin Racing #97
Photo: JJ Media

GTE Am was a good mixture of the three car brands that are driving in the class. Gulf Racing Porsche #86 with Ben Barker was the fastest, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella in Spirit of Race Ferrari #54, while Matteo Cairoli in Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche #88 was P3.

Team Project 1 Porsche #56 finally drove some laps. The team has had a busy week, since their car caught fire last weekend under a private test here at Sebring. After that they had to get a reserve car sent from Germany with a plane, picked it up in Miami, and then put the livery, so that the championship leading car in GTE Am looks like it should.

Gulf Racing Porsche #86
Photo: JJ Media

Most of the drivers can now relax until Thursday at 16.15 local time, while eleven of them will start earlier in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship already at 9.45 local time.

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