Toyota 1-2 in FP3; Bruni Tops LMGTE Pro for Porsche

Mike Conway set the pace as Toyota stamped their authority on FP3 at the Bahrain International Circuit this morning....

Headlines from FP3 at BAPCO 8 Hours of Bahrain......

Hypercar 

  • Toyota Gazoo Racing sit 1-2 at top of timing screens in final 60-minute session at Bahrain International Circuit
  • Mike Conway sets the fastest lap of the meeting so far by completing a 1m48.384s quickest lap in the No.7 Toyota Gazoo Racing entered Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar
  • Brendon Hartley places the No.8 Toyota second in car he shares with Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa

 

  • Peugeot TotalEnergies had topped the first two FP sessions yesterday but have to settle for third and fourth this morning
  • No.94 Peugeot in hands of Gustavo Menezes is fastest of the uniquely designed 9X8s on a 1m49.535s
  • Paul di Resta is again fastest in the No.93 car and laps in a 1m50.279s best
  • Alpine ELF Team are fifth as Mathieu Vaxiviere sets an early session best of 1m50.328s

LMGTE Pro 

  • Porsche fastest again but in FP3 it is the No.91 Porsche GT Team entered 911 RSR that sets the pace
  • 2022 Le Mans winner Gimmi Bruni peaks on a 1m57.089s
  • Second is the points leading No.51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo as Alessandro Pier Guidi laps in 1m57.318s
  • But James Calado later suffers contact with the No.88 Dempsey Proton Porsche driven by Fred Poordad and suffers a broken wheel. Calado returns to the track after brief repairs.
  • Antonio Fuoco is 0.4s shy of the No.51 sister car best as the Italian sets a 1m57.699s
  • The title chasing No.92 Porsche GT Team entry of Michael Christensen and Kevin Estre places fourth as it aims to chase down Calado and Pier Guidi for a crack at the LMGTE Pro title
  • Tommy Milner takes the Corvette Racing entered C8.R to fifth after completing entire session in U.S entered car

LMP2 

  • Robin Frijns stars again in LMP2 as he sets a best qualifying simulation lap of 1m51.792s  in Team WRT Oreca-Gibson

  • Filipe Albuquerque had set a strong early benchmark time on a 1m51.810 s lap but Frijns’ time is a slender 0.018s quicker
  • AF Corse continue strong form to place third as Alessio Rovera sets fastest lap of 1m51.848s and also the best Pro/Am division placed car
  • A 1m51.973 lap by Will Stevens in opening minutes of session ensures the LMP2 points leading No.38 Jota car ends session in fourth position
  • Vector Sports takes fifth as Sebastien Bourdais puts together an encouraging 1m51.988
  • Problems for the No.23 United Autosports USA entry as work is carried out on the Alex Lynn, Josh Pierson and Oliver Jarvis driven car through most of session

LMGTE Am 

  • No.46 Team Project 1 again top the LMGTE Am class for second session running as Nicolas Leutwiler laps in a 2m00.079s
  • No.54 AF Corse Ferrari second with Francesco Castellacci sets a best lap 0.277s adrift of the Team Project 1’s best
  • Christian Ried sets third best lap in the No.77 Dempsey Proton Porsche as German team aims for title longshot this weekend
  • But No.77 placed under investigation for a potential pit stop infraction
  • Team Project 1 also fourth as Ben Barnicoat stops clocks on a 2m00.552s
  • TF Sport improve fifth as they work towards managing points advantage at top of LMGTE Am standings tomorrow

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