13 Nov 2011 Zhuhai 6 hours free practice 1 : Peugeot improve

Photo : ZHUHAI (GUANGDONG, CHINA)  ZHUHAI 6 HOURS, FREE PRACTICE, 11 NOV 2011. Behind here on the track but at the top of the timing screens, Peugeot were fastest.

It was on a dry track and a temperature of 19°C for the first free practice session of six hours of Zhuhai. In the 90 minute session Peugeot dominated by setting the two fastest times.

Stephane Sarrazin was the only driver under 1'22''(1'21''999) half a second ahead of the second 908, followed by both Audis. For the record, the pole position for Montagny and Sarrazin in 2010 was 1'21''868. The first petrol powered LM P1 prototype was the Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota.

In LM GTE Pro, where BMW can still maintain a little hope for the weekend, the two German M3 has just setthe two best times, #55 (Farfus-Müller) being fastest. The #59 Ferrari of Luxury Racing (Makowiecki-Beltoise) was third.

Once again the Oreca Nissan of Signatech Nissan was at the top of LM P2 and the Krohn Racing Ferrari F430, razor-sharp lately, ahead of the others in LM GTE Am

It is worth noting in the GTC a fast time for the Mercedes SLS AMG Häkkinen-Cheng and Arnold.

A red flag stopped the session in the middle, following the exit from the circuit of Lotus #64 at the first corner, followed a few seconds after that of the Peugeot #8 and #11. Simultaneously, smoke was emerging in the second Lotus! All returned quickly to normal, but the session was cut short three minutes before the scheduled end when the #64 Lotus visited the gravel trap again.

Second free practice on Friday from 15:00 to 16:00 or 7 and 8 am UK.

The Zhuhai 6 hours will be on the 13th November. Click here for more information on the final race of the ILMC 2011.