Panis’ Leclerc Fastest as Barcelona Prologue Wraps Up

Arthur Leclerc set the fastest time during the second and final day of Prologue running for the European Le Mans Series at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Ferrari development driver and LMP2 newcomer steered the No. 65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 Gibson to a best lap of 1:28.254 during the four-hour morning session.

Not only did Leclerc’s time compare strongly to Ben Hanley’s 1:28.493 that topped the afternoon session, the Monegasque driver was also 0.725 seconds faster than the time Hanley’s co-driver Marino Sato set to lead the opening day of running on Monday.

Paul di Resta ended Tuesday third aboard the No. 23 United Autosports Oreca, ahead of Cool Racing driver Ritomo Miyata, DKR Engineering’s Laurents Hoerr and the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition entry of Tom Dillmann.

The other two classes, LMP3 and LMGT3, also saw times that were faster compared to those set on Monday.

Nick Adcock reeled off a 1:35.509 aboard the No. 15 RLR M Sport Ligier JS P320 Nissan, 0.242 seconds clear of Cool Racing’s Manuel Espirito Santo.

They were the only two drivers in the class to dip below the 1:36 marker on Tuesday, with Antoine Doquin third for Racing Spirit of Leman ahead of Eurointernational’s Adam Ali and the No. 12 WTM by Rinaldi Racing Duqueine D08 Nissan driven by Oscar Tunjo.

In LMGT3, GR Racing’s Davide Rigon led a Ferrari 1-2, piloting the No. 86 GR Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 to a best lap of 1:41.078.

In the process, he led the No. 55 Spirit of Race entry of David Perel, with Andrea Caldarelli slotting into third behind the wheel of the No. 63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Daniel Serra took fourth for Kessel Racing, while Michelle Gatting completed the top five aboard the No. 85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Track action for the 4 Hours of Barcelona starts with Free Practice 1 on Friday at 11:50 a.m. CEST (5:50 a.m. EDT).

RESULTS: Session 4/Session 5