Spa, free 3: Audi remains on top

Audi topped the time sheets in the third and final free practice for the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 kms. The session was again cut short following an accident.

After dominating Thursday’s two sessions, Audi tightened its stranglehold this morning. The no. 2 R18 in the hands of Marcel Fässler set the first benchmark time in 2m 03.911s, but it was Mike Rockenfeller who set the track alight with a lap in 2m 02.697s in no. 1, the first driver to break the 2m 03s barrier.

The no. 9 Peugeot took third spot behind the two Audis with a time of 2m 04.588 after being rebuilt following its huge shunt yesterday.

In LM P2, the RML HPD ARX-01d was withdrawn as it could not be repaired due to the damage it sustained in the collision with the no. 9 Peugeot. Mathias Beche in the TDS Racing Oreca 03- Nissan was quickest for most of the session until he was beaten by Matias Russo in the Pecom Racing Lola B11/04-Judd, who got round in 2m 12.119s.

In Formula Le Mans, Elton Julian and Genoa Racing were the early pace-setters , but it was Hope Racing which emerged with the quickest time in 2m 16.071s. In the LM GTE Pro category, the no. 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia topped the time sheets with a benchmark lap in 2m 20.836s. The no. 58 F458 entered by Luxury Racing was victim of a big accident in the middle of the session, which led to the red flag being hung out for a few minutes.

In LM GTE Am, Nicolas Armindo continued his good start to the season. The winner of the German Porsche Carrera Cup set the quickest time in his Porsche 997 GT3 RSR in 2m 23.133s.

Qualifying begins at 15h50 (GTE Pro and Am), and then at 16h20, it will be the turn of the prototypes (LM P1, P2, FLM) to tackle the daunting Belgian circuit.