After Peugeot set the pace in the opening practice session of the WEC weekend in Bahrain, BMW Team WRT’s Dries Vanthoor reeled off a 1m48.257s in the No. 15 M Hybrid V8 to top Free Practice 2 under the floodlights.
The Belgian’s lap is the fastest time of the week so far, 2.6 seconds quicker than Paul Di Resta’s session-topping time from FP1 earlier today. It was also a tenth faster than Matt Campbell in the No. 5 Porsche, which slotted in second this evening as the track began to rubber in and the temperature dropped.
The No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari, which was quick in FP1, finished up the night third, ahead of the No. 7 Toyota which made it four manufacturers in the top four, all setting times within four tenths.
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The top five in the penultimate practice session of the season was completed by the Le Mans-winning No. 50 Ferrari, Antonio Fuoco setting the car’s best time, a 1m48.701s.
As for Peugeot, its rapid form from this afternoon didn’t carry over as both crews continued to run through their practice programs. The pair of 9X8s ended up at the bottom of the Hypercar timing screens, 17th and 18th, both over five seconds off the pace. Significantly, though, Peugeot spent the entire session with both cars running on used tires.
In the LMGT3 ranks, however, Lexus’ fast start the weekend continued, with AKKODIS ASP’s No. 87 RC F LMGT3 leading the way this time after the sister car finished FP1 on top. Frenchman Esteban Masson set the time, a 2m02.246s, putting himself 0.7s clear of the other drivers.
TF Sport’s No. 82 Corvette took second, while Vista AF Corse claimed third in the classification with its No. 55 296 LMGT3.
FP2 was another clean session, which ran almost mostly green. The only notable incident was minor and came at Turn 1. Ferrari’s Alessandro Pier Guidi was handed a reprimand for colliding with the D’Station Aston Martin in his No. 51 499P, turning the Vantage around, and scattering a shard of debris across the track.
Track action continues tomorrow at 12:00pm local time with Free Practice 3.