It was under dreadful conditions that the first free practice session got underway for the European Le Mans Series finale, taking place this weekend in Estoril (Portugal). Indeed, the amount of rain which fell on the circuit, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, forced the organisers to shorten the session.
That didn’t stop the No.40 Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 of Pla/Krohn/Jonsson from setting the fastest time of 1'47''724. Some way behind the green LMP2 prototype, more than three seconds, was the No.29 Morgan-Nissan of Pegasus Racing and the No.46 Thiriet by TDS Racing ORECA 05 Nissan, one of the championship title contenders. The other two aspiring champions, the two Gibson 015S of JOTA Sport (No.38) and Greaves Motorsport (No.46) set the 4th and 6th best times respectively.
In LMP3, Team LNT’s two Ginettas, No.2 and No.3, set the fastest times. The No.9 Graff Ligier JS P3 9 Graff, a newcomer in this championship, claimed third.
In GTE, the No.88 Porsche 911 RSR of Proton Competition set the best time ahead of the No.52 BMW Sports Trophy Marc VDS Z4 and Gulf Racing UK’s No.86 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Finally, in GTC, the car leading the championship, the No.59 TDS Racing BMW, is already at the head of the field.
A full course yellow was deployed following problems affecting the No.15 Ginetta (LM P3), and a few minutes later, the red flag was shown for Chris Hoy’s No.3 Team LNT Ginetta. At that stage, in view of the intensity of the winds, it was decided not to restart the session.
David Bristol / ELMS
That didn’t stop the No.40 Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 of Pla/Krohn/Jonsson from setting the fastest time of 1'47''724. Some way behind the green LMP2 prototype, more than three seconds, was the No.29 Morgan-Nissan of Pegasus Racing and the No.46 Thiriet by TDS Racing ORECA 05 Nissan, one of the championship title contenders. The other two aspiring champions, the two Gibson 015S of JOTA Sport (No.38) and Greaves Motorsport (No.46) set the 4th and 6th best times respectively.
In LMP3, Team LNT’s two Ginettas, No.2 and No.3, set the fastest times. The No.9 Graff Ligier JS P3 9 Graff, a newcomer in this championship, claimed third.
In GTE, the No.88 Porsche 911 RSR of Proton Competition set the best time ahead of the No.52 BMW Sports Trophy Marc VDS Z4 and Gulf Racing UK’s No.86 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. Finally, in GTC, the car leading the championship, the No.59 TDS Racing BMW, is already at the head of the field.
A full course yellow was deployed following problems affecting the No.15 Ginetta (LM P3), and a few minutes later, the red flag was shown for Chris Hoy’s No.3 Team LNT Ginetta. At that stage, in view of the intensity of the winds, it was decided not to restart the session.
David Bristol / ELMS
