Audi drivers top the first two practices at Sebring

Romain Dumas set the fastest time in the first official practice for Saturday’s 60th running of the Twelve Hours of Sebring. The Frenchman clocked off a best lap of 1:48.626 in the #3 Audi Sport Team Joest R18. However, Andre Lotterer set a faster time in the second practice in the #1 Audi R18 with a 1:47.761.

The strength of the Audi team cars after the two practices was very noticeable when Dumas’ co-driver Timo Bernard was second in the FIA World Endurance Championship LM P1 class by besting the Frenchman’s time. The German clocked a 1:48.239 in the afternoon. Third belonged to Dindo Capello, with a best lap of 1:49.202.

The best time between the morning and afternoon runs for the American Le Mans Series LM P1 cars was Klaus Graf in the Muscle Milk Pickett Racing #6 HPD ARX-03b with a 1:49.762.

Setting a fast time of 1:52.680 during both practices for the LM P2 cars was Level 5 Motorsports #055 HPD with Joao Barbosa at the wheel.

#7 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09: Chapman Ducote, Javier Echeverria, Pablo Sanchez

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

The Prototype Challenge (PC) class is strictly an ALMS class and the best lap was a 1:55.573 by the #7 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09 in the afternoon practice.

In the LM GT-Pro class, it was the AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia team that ended up with the fastest time of 2:00.334 during practice two. The WEC team just beat the ALMS BMW RLL team as the #155 E92 M3’s best lap was a 2:00.891.

Taking the best time in the LM GT-AM, the #50 Larbre Competition Corvette set the fastest lap of 2:02.747 this afternoon. The night practice will be the next test. Qualifying is on Friday.

While both the WEC and ALMS teams are contesting the historic race, both will be reaping the valuable points for each series.