Audi e-tron On Top in First Session, with Aston Martin the Leading GT
2011 Le Mans Winners Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer finished the first 4-hour track session at the top of the timing sheets with Lotterer in the nr1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro posting a lap time of 3:25.163, 1.331 seconds ahead of the nr2 Audi with Tom Kristensen as the fastest driver. The nr3 and nr4 Audi’s were 3rd and 4th fastest respectively, with the leading Toyota of Kazuki Nakajima 5th fastest, 3.258 seconds behind the lead Audi.
The nr21 Strakka Racing HPD-Honda was the top LMP1 privately entered team with Danny Watts posting a time of 3:31.651. The nr17 Pescarolo Team Dome-Judd was second fastest and the nr12 Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota was third.
The LMP2 class was headed by Sebring class winners Starworks Motorsport, with 2011 Le Mans winner Tom Kimber-Smith, who is replacing Stéphane Sarrazin in the team, posting the fastest time of 3:39.669.
The LMGTE Pro class was headed by the nr97 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8 posting the quickest time of 3:57.036 with Darren Turner at the wheel, 0.442 ahead of the nr59 Luxury Racing Ferrari of Jaime Melo. In GTE Am the top WEC points eligible driver was Allan Simonsen in the nr99 Aston Martin Racing Vantage V8, who finished the session 2nd in class 0.486 seconds behind the top GTE Am car, the nr 79 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche of Patrick Pilet.
The next track session is the first qualifying practice which begins at 22:00 (local).
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY 13TH JUNE 2012, PRACTICE SESSION. Aston Martin Racing ruled the LMGTE Pro class during the practice session