Jota Tops Friday Practice in Hungary

Photo: DPPI/ELMS

Jota Sport led the way in Friday’s Free Practice sessions in Hungary, as European Le Mans Series teams prepare for tomorrow’s Three Hours of the Hungaroring

Oliver Turvey reeled off a best time of 1:36.757 in the No. 38 Zytek Z11SN Nissan in the afternoon’s 60-minute session to go quickest on the day.

It came after the No. 36 Signatech Alpine’s LMP2 pace-setting time from the second session had been disallowed due to Nelson Panciatici overtaking while under yellow flags.

As a result, the No. 18 Murphy Prototypes Oreca Nissan of Brendon Hartley and Jonathan Hirschi wound up second quickest on the time sheets with a 1:37.001, followed by defending champions Thiriet by TDS Racing, which completed the top three overall and in class.

LMPC on Friday was led by the No. 48 Team Endurance Challenge Oreca FLM09 of Soheil Ayari, while the Andrea Bertolini and Joel Camathias-driven JMW Motorsport Ferrari F458 Italia paced GTE.

Bertolini’s 1:44.844 edged out the No. 53 Ram Racing Ferrari, driven by Americans Gunnar Jeannette and Frankie Montecalvo, by 0.584 seconds. The No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche completed the top-three in class.

The Russian SMP Racing team had the two quickest times in GTC, with its pair of Ferrari F458 GT3 cars.

Qualifying gets underway at 9:35 a.m. local (3:35 a.m. ET), with the Three Hours of the Hungaroring taking the green at 4 p.m. local (10 a.m. ET). Live coverage will be available on http://www.europeanlemansseries.com.

RESULTS: Practice 1
RESULTS: Practice 2

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