American Le Mans Series

Utah ALMS Grand Prix - First Practice report

© American Le Mans Series

Another very strong performance at the Miller Motorsports Park at Utah by the number 66 Gil de Ferran Acura saw them topping the times in the first practice session on Saturday at 1.32.6, just 1/10th second ahead of the Lowe’s Fernández Racing car completing a 1-2 for the Japanese-powered LMP2 prototypes. Simon Pagenaud put several very quick laps in a car numbered after the historical 66 worn in the past by Jim Hall’s Chaparrals in a tribute by the Brazilian to one of the myths of sportscars racing.

Early on in the session the newcomers were already on top with 1.32.9 followed by the AGR and Fernández Acuras 0.5 and 1.7 seconds behind respectively, Audi number 2 actually on 3rd with 1.34.5. It was only with 23 minutes into the session that Frank Biela managed a 1.34.2 to get the number 1 Audi into 3rd position ahead of his team mates. In the meantime GT2 had Tafel’s 71 car on top with a 1.48.0 driven by Dominik Farnbacher followed by the Farnbacher Loles and 46 Lizard Porsches both less than a second ahead.

A bit further the 45 Lizard progressed with 1.48.7 to get 3rd in class as the 62 Risi Ferrari was in 5th in 1.49.0 but with 43 minutes gone a 1.47.9 from Johannes van Overbeek gave the 46 Lizard a provisional best time in GT2 showin the Porsches are very competitive in this warm weather. Frank Biela improved further to 2nd overall in 1.33.0 as did Fernández managing 4th overall in 1.33.6 with three quarters of the session gone.

The Penske Porsches showed some late improvement with Sascha Maassen going around the new track layout in 1.33.3 with 52 minutes gone and climbing to 3rd overall in between Audi 1 and the Andretti Green Acura. The last minutes were a bit of a thriller, while David Brabham managed a 1.34.2 getting the patrón Highcroft Acura to 7th overall, two very quick laps by Adrián Fernández saw him climb to 4th and then 1st overall in 1.32.7. When everything seemed to go the Mexican’s way Simon Pagenaud responded in 1.32.6 with less than 2 minutes to go in the session to recapture the top spot overall.

Practice times:

1 66 P2 de Ferran Motorsports 1:32.639
2 15 P2 Lowe`s Fernandez Racing 1:32.791
3 1 P1 Audi Sport North America 1:33.099
4 6 P2 Penske Racing 1:33.296
5 26 P2 Andretti Green Racing 1:33.485
6 7 P2 Penske Racing 1:33.691
7 9 P2 Patron Highcroft Racing 1:34.017
8 16 P2 Dyson Racing Team 1:34.083
9 2 P1 Audi Sport North America 1:34.378
10 20 P2 Dyson Racing Team 1:34.731
11 8 P2 B-K Motorsports 1:36.165
12 37 P1 Intersport Racing 1:36.655
13 3 GT1 Corvette Racing 1:44.920
14 4 GT1 Corvette Racing 1:45.346
15 46 GT2 Flying Lizard Motorsports 1:47.990
16 71 GT2 Tafel Racing 1:48.035
17 87 GT2 Farnbacher Loles 1:48.237
18 45 GT2 Flying Lizard Motorsports 1:48.315
19 62 GT2 Risi Competizione 1:49.017
20 61 GT2 Risi Competizione 1:49.368
21 48 GT2 Corsa Motorsports 1:49.492
22 21 GT2 Panoz Team PTG 1:49.741
23 73 GT2 Tafel Racing 1:50.569
24 28 GT2 LG Motorsports 1:50.820
25 007 GT2 Drayson-Barwell 1:51.301
26 5 GT2 VICI Racing 1:51.310
27 18 GT2 VICI Racing 1:51.605
28 40 GT2 Robertson Racing 1:52.353
29 44 GT2 Flying Lizard Motorsports 44 1:52.768
30 11 GT2 Primetime Race Group 1:53.240

Next practice session at 1.55 PM local time followed by qualifying at 3.05 PM (7 hours later in the UK/Portugal , 8 hours later in Central Europe)