Porsche leads WEC Prologue day two

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor

Porsche again topped the timesheets for the second and final day of running for the World Endurance Championships ‘prologue’ test from Paul Ricard in France.

Brendon Hartley picked up where Neel Jani left off yesterday and set the fastest time of the test with a blistering 1:37.448 lap during a qualifying simulation. Once again, the time was close to those set last year by Porsche, despite the 8% energy reduction via the fuel flow regulation changes, but it is worth noting that last year Porsche ran only its low downforce Le Mans aero package to set its top time. Today they ran their high donwforce package which is far better suited to a track like Paul Ricard.

Toyota and Audi got closer today and despite both performing better than at last year’s Prologue, neither got too close to the front running Porsche.

Toyota’s best time came in at 1:38.237 when it put the high downforce package on the car for Stephane Sarrazin today.

Audi’s quickest time came at the hands of Bennoit Treluyer with a 1:38.827 lap.

The Signatech Alpine squad continued their domination in LMP2 and topped both the morning and afternoon sessions for the second day running, the car managing a 1:47.974.

AF Corse also continued its hot streak in GTE Pro with Gianmaria Bruni and Sam Bird posting the quickest times in their 488’s in the high 1:57’s and low 1:58’s.

Image: Max Malka