Porsche Tops Practice 1 at Silverstone

Photo: Marcel ten Caat

Porsche led the way in both the LMP1 and GTE-Pro classes in the opening practice for Sunday’s FIA WEC season-opening Six Hours of Silverstone.

The No. 14 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Marc Lieb topped the time charts with a 1:44.042 lap time, set late in the 90-minute session.

Lieb edged out the No. 1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Loic Duval by a considerable 0.428 seconds, with Anthony Davidson’s No. 8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid making it three different manufacturers in the top three in LMP1-H.

The two 2013-spec Rebellion Lola B12/60 Toyotas were not far from the factory entries, with the No. 12 car of Nicolas Prost recording a 1:45.593 lap, just 1.5 seconds adrift from the leading Porsche.

LMP2 was paced by the No.26 G-Drive Racing Morgan Nissan of Roman Rusinov, who reeled off a 1:51.004 lap time early in the session.

The No. 27 SMP Racing and No. 47 KCMG Oreca 03 Nissans were second and third in class, with Nic Minassian and Richard Bradley setting the fast times, respectively.

Porsche Team Manthey ended the session 1-2 in GTE-Pro, with Patrick Pilet the only GT driver to break the 2:00 barrier.

The Frenchman’s 1:58.981 lap time in the No. 91 entry was a considerable 1.474 seconds quicker than the sister No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR of Marco Hlzer, who was second in class.

Quickest of the non-Porsches was the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia of Gianmaria Bruni with a 2:00.519 lap time.

GTE-Am was paced by Sam Bird, who recorded a 2:01.210 in the No. 81 AF Corse Ferrari to go quickest in class.

No major incidents were reported during the session, which ran without a red flag.

Friday’s second practice session is scheduled for 3:55 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: 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