Lotterer Tops Free Practice 1 in Mexico

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Andre Lotterer topped the time charts in Friday’s Free Practice 1 for the Six Hours of Mexico, leading a Porsche 1-2 in the wet-turned-dry session.

The German reeled off a 1:27.026 to go edge out the FIA World Endurance Championship-leading No. 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard and Earl Bamber by 0.649 seconds.

The pair of Toyota TS050 Hybrids were unable to match the Porsches in the session, with the No. 7 entry in a distant third, more than one second slower than Lotterer’s best time.

Signatech Alpine led the way in LMP2, thanks to flying laps from both Gustavo Menezes and Nico Lapierre, with the Frenchman’s 1:34.556 ultimately ending up two-tenths quicker than his co-driver.

AF Corse’s James Calado was quickest in GTE-Pro, with Matteo Cairoli topping GTE-Am in the No. 77 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR.

The session, which started in full wet conditions, dried out in the closing stages, where the majority of the quick times were set.

Only two notable incidents were reported, with the No. 24 CEFC Manor TRS Oreca 07 Gibson reported to be slow on track and the LMP2 championship-leading No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca facing alternator issues.

Free Practice 2 is set for 9:30 a.m. CT, in a busy day of track action culminating with qualifying in the evening.

RESULTS: Free Practice 1

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John