In what has been the first completely dry session since the WEC prologue last weekend here at Paul Ricard, Nelson Panciatici was fastest during today's final practice session.
The Frenchman's best time of 1.41.215 in his #29 Duqueine Engineering Oreca was 0.658 seconds faster than Nicolas Lapierre in the #21 Dragonspeed Oreca. Matthieu Vaxivière got third fastest in the TDS Oreca, ahead of the #24 Racing Engineering of Norman Nato. First of the non-Oreca chassis' was the #30 AVF Dallara of Konstantin Tereschenko and Henrique Chaves, 1.555 seconds adrift of Panciatici.
Job Van Uiterst set the fastest time in the LMP3 class, managing a 1.52.290 in the #15 RLR Msport Ligier. Matthew Bell in the #3 United Autosports was second fastest time, 0.328 seconds behind the Dutchman. Third quickest was Giorgio Mondini in the #11 Eurointernational Ligier . The #17 Ultimate was the quickest Norma again, now with Jean-Baptiste Lahaye behind the wheel.
Porsche outpaced Ferrari this morning in the GTE class. Proton Competition finished 1-2 at the end of the 90 minute session, Matteo Cairoli quickest again in his #88 in a time of 1.54.253. Dennis Olsen in the #88 sister followed close, only 0.221 seconds behind the Italian. Ben Barker in the #86 Gulf Racing 911 RSR was right on the heels of Olsen, missing out second place with 0.018 seconds. Best of the Ferrari's was the #55 Spirit of Race, just under 0.4 seconds behind Cairoli.
Track action resumes this afternoon with qualifying at 13h40.
Kristof Vermeulen.
Pictures: kristofvermeulen.com