Spa, free 2: Audi in front in a shortened session

Two accidents in less than 45 minutes

By Franck Drui

5 May 2011 - 19:01

Audi set the three quickest times in the second free practice session for the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms. The session was cut short due to two accidents in less than 45 minutes.

As in the opening practice, the Audi R18 TDIs shot to the front in the LM P1 category. Allan McNish in the no. 3 R18 got round in 2m 04.361s before André Lotterer in no.2 went quicker in 2m 03.124s. In LM P2, Tom Kimber-Smith (Zytek Z11SN-Nissan) improved on several occasions and his best was a lap in 2m 10.656s.

Practice was interrupted when Jean-Christophe Boullion in the Rebellion Racing no. 13 Lola-Toyota went straight on in the climb up the Raidillon, probably due to mechanical failure, and hit the tyre barrier. The driver escaped uninjured and the Swiss team is already hard at work repairing his car for Saturday.

A few minute later another accident led to the session being stopped for good. On the entry to the Fagnes corner, a collision between Pedro Lamy in the no. 9 Peugeot and the no. 36 HPD ARX-01d of Mike Newton (RML Racing) sent both cars careering into the protection barriers at high speed after a heavy impact. It was a very spectacular crash and the cars were badly damaged. Both drivers went to the medical centre. Pedro Lamy is unhurt as is Mike Newton, but the Englishman has been taken to hospital for in-depth examinations.

Drivers and teams will be back out on the track tomorrow, Friday, at 11h50 for the third free practice session. The weather promises to be sunny and a large crowd is expected for the second day’s practice.

Pos	#	Team	Driver	Car	Cat	Time	Gap
1	2	Audi Sport Team Joest	M. Fassler/A. Lotterer/B. Treluyer	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	2:03.124
2	3	Audi Sport North America	D. Capello/T. Kristensen/A. McNish	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	2:04.361	+1.237
3	1	Audi Sport Team Joest	T. Bernhard/R. Dumas/M. Rockenfeller	Audi R18 TDI	LM P1	2:04.405	+1.281
4	9	Peugeot Sport Total	P. Lamy/S. Bourdais/S. Pagenaud	Peugeot 908	LM P1	2:05.472	+2.348
5	10	Team Oreca Matmut	N. Lapierre/L. Duval/O. Panis	Peugeot 908 Hdi-FAP	LM P1	2:06.962	+3.838
6	7	Peugeot Sport Total	M. Gene/A. Wurz/A. Davidson	Peugeot 908	LM P1	2:07.150	+4.026
7	20	Quifel - ASM Team	M. Amaral/O. Pla	Zytek 09SC	LM P1	2:07.543	+4.419
8	8	Peugeot Sport Total	F. Montagny/S. Sarrazin/N. Minassian	Peugeot 908	LM P1	2:08.547	+5.423
9	15	Oak Racing	M. Lahaye/G. Moreau/P. Ragues	Oak Pescarolo - Judd	LM P1	2:08.859	+5.735
10	12	Rebellion Racing	N. Prost/N. Jani	Lola B10/60 Coupe - Toyota	LM P1	2:09.004	+5.880
11	13	Rebellion Racing	A. Belicchi/J. Boullion	Lola B10/60 Coupe - Toyota	LM P1	2:09.138	+6.014
12	41	Greaves Motorsport	K. Ojjeh/G. Chalandon/T. Kimnber-Smith	Zytek Z11SN - Nissan	LM P2	2:10.565	+7.441
13	23	MIK Corse	M. Cortes/F. Geri/G. Piccini	Zytek 09 Hybrid	LM P1	2:12.641	+9.517
14	36	RML	T. Erdos/M. Newton/B. Collins	HPD ARX -01d	LM P2	2:13.676	+10.552
15	46	TDS Racing	M. Beche/P. Thiriet/J. Firth	Oreca 03 - Nissan	LM P2	2:13.795	+10.671
16	42	Strakka Racing	N. Leventis/D. Watts/J. Kane	HPD ARX -01d	LM P2	2:13.850	+10.726
17	16	Pescarolo Team	E. Collard/C. Tinseau/J. Jousse	Pescarolo - Judd	LM P1	2:13.857	+10.733
18	45	Boutsen Energy Racing	D. Kraihamer/N. De Crem	Oreca 03 - Nissan	LM P2	2:15.434	+12.310
19	26	Signatech Nissan	F. Mailleux/L. Ordoñez/S. Ayari	Oreca 03 - Nissan	LM P2	2:16.138	+13.014
20	91	Hope Racing	L. Moro/S. Zhang/N. Marroc	Formula Le Mans - Oreca - 09	FLM	2:16.146	+13.022
21	39	Pecom Racing	L. Perez-Companc/M. Russo/P. Kaffer	Lola B11/40 - Judd	LM P2	2:16.802	+13.678
22	93	Genoa Racing	E. Julian/C. Zugel/J. Petersen	Formula Le Mans - Oreca - 09	FLM	2:18.148	+15.024
23	35	Oak Racing	A. Barlesi/F. Da Rocha/P. Lafargue	Oak Pescarolo - Judd	LM P2	2:18.364	+15.240
24	33	Level 5 Motorsports	S. Tucker/C. Bouchut/J. Barbosa	Lola Coupe - HPD	LM P2	2:18.649	+15.525
25	66	JMW Motorsport	R. Bell/J. Walker	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:21.446	+18.322
26	89	Hankook Team Farnbacher	D. Farnbacher/A. Simonsen	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:21.899	+18.775
27	51	AF Corse	G. Fisichella/G. Bruni	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:22.189	+19.065
28	43	RLR Msport	B. Gates/R. Garofall/S. Phillips	MG Lola EX265 - Judd	LM P2	2:22.674	+19.550
29	76	IMSA Performance Matmut	P. Pilet/W. Henzler	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	2:22.706	+19.582
30	56	BMW Motorsport	A. Priaulx/U. Alzen	BMW M3	LM GTE Pro	2:22.928	+19.804
31	55	BMW Motorsport	A. Farfus/J. Muller	BMW M3	LM GTE Pro	2:22.933	+19.809
32	59	Luxury Racing	S. Ortelli/F. Makowiecki	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:23.260	+20.136
33	77	Team Felbermayr-Proton	M. Lieb/R. Lietz	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	2:23.366	+20.242
34	44	Extreme Limite AM Paris	F. Rosier/J. Luco/M. Basso	Norma M200P - Judd	LM P2	2:23.946	+20.822
35	99	JMB Racing	M. Rodrigues/J. Menahem/O. Lombard	Formula Le Mans - Oreca - 09	FLM	2:24.335	+21.211
36	71	AF Corse	J. Melo/T. Vilander	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:24.918	+21.794
37	67	IMSA Performance Matmut	N. Armindo/R. Narac	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	2:24.981	+21.857
38	79	Jota	S. Dolan/S. Hancock	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Pro	2:25.137	+22.013
39	75	Prospeed Competition	M. Goosens/M. Holzer	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Pro	2:26.045	+22.921
40	61	AF Corse	P. Perazzini/M. Cioci/S. Lemeret	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:26.141	+23.017
41	58	Luxury Racing	A. Beltoise/F. Jakubowski/J. Deletraz	Ferrari F458 Italia	LM GTE Pro	2:26.680	+23.556
42	82	CRS Racing	K. Hummel/A. Christodoulou/P. Quaife	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:27.476	+24.352
43	62	CRS Racing	P. Ehret/S. Lynn/R. Wills	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:27.688	+24.564
44	63	Proton Competition	C. Ried/N. Hommerson	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	2:27.899	+24.775
45	88	Team Felbermayr-Proton	H. Felbermayr Jr/B. Miller	Porsche 911 RSR (997)	LM GTE Am	2:27.989	+24.865
46	65	Lotus Jetalliance	J. Hirschi/J. Rossiter/J. Mowlem	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	2:29.276	+26.152
47	92	Neil Garner Motorsport	J. Hartshorne/S. Keating/P. Keen	Formula Le Mans - Oreca - 09	FLM	2:29.670	+26.546
48	60	Gulf AMR Middle East	F. Giroix/R. Goethe/M. Wainwright	Aston Martin Vantage	LM GTE Am	2:30.685	+27.561
49	70	Kessel Racing	M. Broniszewski/P. Peter	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:30.882	+27.758
50	57	Krohn Racing	T. Krohn/N. Jonsson	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:31.191	+28.067
51	64	Lotus Jetalliance	M. Rich/O. Slingerland	Lotus Evora	LM GTE Pro	2:31.203	+28.079
52	72	AF Corse	R. Kauffman/R. Aguas	Ferrari F430	LM GTE Am	2:38.816	+35.692
53	40	Race Performance	M. Frey/R. Meichtry/M. Rostan	Oreca 03 - Judd	LM P2	-:—.---	+—.---
54	50	Larbre Competition	P. Bornhauser/J. Canal/G. Gardel	Corvette C6-ZR1	LM GTE Am	-:—.---	+—.---
55	95	Pegasus Racing	M. Schultis/P. Simon/J. Schell	Formula Le Mans - Oreca - 09	FLM	-:—.---	+—.---