Slovakia - FP2: Nash chases a Chevrolet duo

Chevrolet Cruze cars set the fastest two times in the second Free Practice session, but the Ford Focus of James Nash was a close third.

Alain Menu posted the fastest lap of 2:13.837, bettering the reigning World Champion Yvan Muller (2:14.314) by just under half a second. After having impressed in Morocco, Team AON driver James Nash (2:14.608) emerged as the third fastest, while the man who had set the fastest time in the first session, Pepe Oriola in a SEAT León, was fourth fastest on this occasion (2:14.673).

The early pace had been set by Tom Coronel’s BMW, but Nash went quicker than Coronel on his fifth lap and then Menu went faster still on the next; the Swiss driver being the only one to break the 2:14.000 barrier during the session.

While Team AON were delighted by Nash’s pace, Tom Chilton could only manage the 16th fastest time (2:16.618). After completing just a handful of laps in the first session, his Ford Focus was back in the pitlane after only one lap of FP2 for some attention. The Englishman went on to complete a total of 9 laps and must be hoping for a change of fortune ahead of Qualifying.

Once again, the gravel traps at the Slovakia Ring claimed a few scalps during the session. Darryl O’Young was twice caught out at Turn 2, while Yvan Muller and Stefano D’Aste were also victims of the long right-hander. Charles Ng visited the gravel at T6 on his seventh lap with the same corner having already given both Oriola and Coronel a scare. Right at the end of the session, Gabriele Tarquini’s SEAT León found itself stuck in the gravel at T13 after the chequered flag had been waved and so the Italian driver had to settle for tenth quickest (2:15.467).