Lotterer Tops Wet Free Practice 1 at Fuji

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Andre Lotterer led a Porsche 1-2 in a rain-soaked opening Free Practice for Sunday’s Six Hours of Fuji, the seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season.

The German reeled off a best lap of 1:35.527 in his No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid, edging out the sister No. 2 car of Earl Bamber by 0.133 seconds.

Porsche, which could lock up the Manufacturers’ World Championship this weekend, has shown the early edge in the wet, with the pair of Toyota TS050 Hybrids some four-tenths back in FP1.

The No. 7 Toyota of Jose Maria Lopez could only muster a 1:36.010 lap in the in the treacherous conditions, which saw areas of standing water at the start of the 90-minute session.

LMP2 was led by the No. 37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca 07 Gibson, thanks to a 1:42.735 lap by Alex Brundle.

Porsche, meanwhile, capitalized on the conditions to lead the way in GTE-Pro, with the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR of Michael Christensen ahead of teammate Richard Lietz, in second.

The No. 54 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE of Miguel Molina pace GTE-Am, nearly six-tenths ahead of the No. 61 Clearwater Ferrari.

The session saw two Full Course Yellows, both for debris, either on the front stretch and in Turn 1.

In addition, a number of cars had off-course excursions, although all remaining clear of the barriers.

Free Practice 2 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. local time.

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