Prologue Session 2: Cadillac set the pace
Cadillac Racing’s Earl Bamber led the way in the second test session of the 2023 FIA WEC Prologue at the Sebring International Raceway this afternoon
The Kiwi set a fastest lap of 1m48.429s as Cadillac prepares for its home race of the new season next Friday (17 March).
Two-time Le Mans winner Bamber shares the No.2 Cadillac V-Series R Hypercar with teammates Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook, and he headed the No.8 Toyota GR10 Hybrid Hypercar by a slender 0.014s.
Prologue Session 2 Cadillac finishes the afternoon on top.
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Sebastien Buemi’s 1m48.443 just shaded the No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing entry with Jose-Maria Lopez again claiming the best time aboard the car he shares with Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway.
Ferrari AF Corse placed fourth and fifth in the three hour session as its No.50 car headed the sister No.51 entry. The two Antonios of Antonio Fuoco and Antonio Giovinazzi set the times for the Prancing Horse.
Penske Porsche took sixth and seventh in the Hypercar category as the No.5 Porsche 963 Hypercar headed the No.6 car, with Frederic Makowiecki and Laurens Vanthoor setting the respective times.
Peugeot TotalEnergies made it five manufacturers in the top eight as the No.94 Peugeot 9X8 peaked on a 1m51.035s lap courtesy of Nico Mueller.
However, there was misfortune for the No.93 Peugeot as Jean-Eric Vergne suffered an accident midway through the session after an incident with the Vector Sport LMP2 car. The Peugeot sustained bodywork damage in the excursion.
The car Vergne shares with Paul di Resta and Mikkel Jensen was ninth in Hypercar thanks to the young Dane’s early session time.
Glickenhaus rounded out the top ten thanks to Olivier Pla, while the Floyd Vanwall Racing Team lapped 0.7s off the Glickenhaus.
LMP2
In LMP2 Phil Hanson again proved to be quickest as he set a fastest lap of 1m51.492s in the No.22 United Autosports Oreca-Gibson.
That time was 0.5s ahead of the No.63 Prema car, as WEC debutant Daniil Kvyat peaked on a 1m51.534s lap. Third in LMP2 was the No.41 Team WRT car as Louis Deletraz lapped just 0.097s off Kvyat’s time.
LMGTE Am
LMGTE Am again proved tight as the Iron Dames Porsche again proves quick. Michelle Gatting reprises her first session form with a rapid 1m59.201 to again lead the 14 car class.
Ferrari lead the chase in this session with Ulysse De Pauw lapping just 0.2s off Gatting’s best time. The young Belgian ace, who shares the No.21 AF Corse Ferrari with Stefano Costantini and Simon Mann, sets a best of 1m59.462s.
Julien Andlauer is just 0.032s off De Pauw’s second best time in the No.88 Dempsey Proton Porsche 911 RSR-19, while the No.54 AF Corse Ferrari maintains its so far strong pace in fourth. The No.57 Kessel Racing and No.60 Iron Lynx Ferraris ensure there are four Ferraris in the top six.
The third session of the 2023 Prologue is scheduled to get underway at 10h30 local time on Sunday morning.
