Porsche stays on top in penultimate WEC test session

Morning rain ensured a damp track surface and a slow start to the session, although all four manufacturer LMP1 cars took advantage of the situation to get some wet running under their belts.

It was the #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid of Kazuki Nakajima that controlled proceedings early on, the Japanese driver holding the top spot after the first half-hour, but as conditions improved the Porsches came to the fore.

Earl Bamber led in the #2 919 Hybrid after the one-hour mark, having lapped within three seconds of Mike Conway’s best time from Saturday, before Jani put the #1 car ahead with a 1m32.020s, which stood as the benchmark entering the final hour.

Despite Brendon Hartley coming within 0.004s of the Swiss driver’s effort after taking over the #2 machine from compatriot Bamber, it was Jani’s time that remained the best of the session - albeit some way off Conway's 1m31.332s from the previous day.

Toyota ended up third and fourth, with the #8’s best time, a 1m32.500s, coming courtesy of Nakajima. Kamui Kobayashi was responsible for the #7 car’s quickest tour, a 1m32.549s.

The remaining LMP1 entry, ByKolles, did not run after the team opted to abandon the Prologue early due to myriad technical issues with its new ENSO CLM P1/01 car.

In LMP2, Matthieu Vaxiviere propelled the TDS squad to the top of the class timesheets, the French driver recording a late effort of 1m36.078s in the #28 Oreca-Gibson – a marginal improvement on Bruno Senna’s class benchmark from Saturday.

Roman Rusinov made it a TDS one-two in the team’s G-Drive-backed #26 Oreca, with a best of 1m36.456s, with Mathias Beche taking third in the #13 Rebellion entry.

Porsche holds sway in GTE

Porsche maintained its stranglehold on the GTE Pro division, with Kevin Estre setting the pace in the #92 911 RSR with a best time of 1m47.507s, a couple of tenths shy of the car's best time from Saturday.

Frederic Makowiecki made it a Porsche one-two in the sister #91 car with a time just 0.005s slower, in the process edging out Harry Tincknell in the quicker of the Ford by only 0.027s.

Davide Rigon was the best of the Ferrari drivers as he put the #71 machine fifth in class, behind the second Ford but ahead of the sister #51 488 GTE and both Aston Martins.

The Italian marque was quickest in the GTE Am class, thanks to former Audi DTM man Miguel Molina logging a best time of 1m49.843s in the #54 Spirit of Race car.