Maldonado stars on FIA WEC debut as track action begins for 2018
The Headlines after 8 hours of testing at the Prologue, Circuit Paul Ricard....Toyota Gazoo Racing head times at season opening Prologue as the updated TS050 HYBRID sets the pace with a 1m32.662 lap set by Mike Conway in No.8 car.
• Sister No.7 car, which is to be driven by all five drivers present during the 30-hour endurance test, was quickest in the morning session but was eclipsed by just under two seconds by No.7 car which is running in low-downforce configuration.
• The new BR Engineering BR1-AER entered by Russia’s SMP Racing place 3rd and 4th just ahead of customer version of the car run by Dragonspeed.
• No.11 Russian entered LMP1 heads similar No.17 car.
• CEFC TRSM Racing place sixth but are just 0.5s away from third placed No.11 SMP car.
• Pastor Maldonado makes excellent start to his endurance career by taking fastest time for Dragonspeed ORECA-Gibson.
• Former F1 race winner sets a 1m40.771s lap to beat Loic Duval’s previous best lap in LMP2 class which was a 1m41.227s in TDS Racing ORECA.
• Less than 0.1s covers third to fifth as Signatech Alpine lead the pair of Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECAS.
• Porsche GT Team to the fore in LMGTE Pro as No.91 Porsche laps 0.4s quicker than pair of Ford GTs.
• Richard Lietz sets 1m51.650s as Porsche aim to push for first WEC class win and challenge for Super Season title.
• No.92 Porsche driven by Michael Christensen and Kevin Estre ends daytime running fourth.
• Reigning champions AF Corse Ferrari place fifth and seventh with No.51 heading No.71, while WEC debutants BMW Team MTEK are 8th and 10th as they concentrate on a full endurance test of the new BMW M8 GTE.
• No.77 Dempsey-Proton Porsche emerge fastest in LMGTE Am as new boys Julien Andlauer and Matt Campbell learn the WEC ropes alongside regular driver Christian Ried.
• Gulf Racing make it a Porsche 1-2 as Ben Barker’s morning best time of 1m53.769s is still good enough for second despite the car causing a Full Course Yellow in the afternoon after leaving debris on track.
• Testing continues throughout the night for 14 cars in LMP1, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am.
• The Prologue runs until 16.00 CET Saturday afternoon.