FIA WEC: Audi tops the final practice session with another 1-2 at Austin

By Johan Laubscher

The second official day of the FIA WEC at Austin has started with Audi topping the time sheets again in the third an final free practice session.

Audi Sport Team Joest topped both dry test sessions with a 1-2 at the Circuit of The Americas on Thursday. They repeated that result in a wet free practice one yesterday, again placing 1-2 ahead of the competition. Toyota, with their lone TS030 Hybrid, was fastest during the second wet free practice session, followed by the two Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars.

The third free practice session was held on Saturday morning and it concluded with another Audi 1-2 at the top of the times. It was the first official session held in dry weather conditions. Audi #1 of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Treluyer set the fastest time. They were followed by their teammates, Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish and Loïc Duval, in second. The gap between the leading Audis was only 0.091 seconds. Near on a second behind in third was the #8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid, followed by the privateer Rebellion Racing Lola in fourth.

Qualifying is up next at COTA, scheduled to begin at 13h00 local time. We wish the best of luck to Audi Sport Team Joest and their drivers to repeat the strong performances so far.

Second practice session LMP1 results:
1 #8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid                        2:00.756

2 #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro                     2:04.067        
3 #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro                     2:05.187

4 #12 Lola B12/60 Coupé - Toyota             2:06.482

Third practice session LMP1 results:
1 #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro                     1:48.650
2 #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro                     1:48.741

3 #8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid                        1:49.677

4 #12 Lola B12/60 Coupé - Toyota            1:53.053

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media