Le Mans Series

LMS Spa 1000 km - Third practice report

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

For the first time this weekend the number 7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP was not the fastest car out on the track here at Spa-Francorchamps. In fact the Gene/Minassian/Villeneuve car only ended the session in fifth place. Quickest in the final free practice session was the other Peugeot of Lamy/Sarrazin/Wurz.

Just like yesterday the session was interrupted by red flags. The number 26 Bruichladdich Radical went off coming out of Rivage, the car hitting the barriers with the side of the car and the car had to be taken away on a flatbed. Later in the session it was the number 37 WR that went off at the top of the Raidillon, the damage to the LMP2 car was big and the session was stopped again.

Meanwhile in LMP1 Peugeot and Audi went below the 2:00 barrier. The number 8 Peugeot 908 set a time of 1:58.180, the fastest of all the cars participating this session. Second fastest was the McNish/Capello Audi in 1:59.208, with the number 2 sister Audi finishing in third place. The Premat/Rockenfeller driven R10 was the first car not to go below 2:00, setting a time of 2:00.773.

The Porsche RS Spyders were on top again in LMP2. Jos Verstappen was the fastest in a time of 2:04.771, the only LMP2 car below 2:05. Second fastest was the Horag Racing Porsche RS Spyder in 2:05.550 with the Barazi Epsilon Zytek back in third place.

Team Modena was back in action in the third free practice session, after missing the final practice yesterday. A 2:17.119 was the quickest time set by the car, enough to secure the top spot in the GT1 category. The two Luc Alphand Corvettes were second and third, with the number 72 beating the number 73, 2:17.570 vs 2:19.014.

In GT2 it was a Ferrari 1-2. Virgo Motorsport was quickest this time (2:21.225), the Farnbacher Racing Ferrari 430GT second in 2:21.482. Farnbacher Racing also secured the third place with the Porsche. The Nielsen/Westbrook/Simonsen car was the quickest Porsche, but still almost a second away from the Virgo Motorsport.