Vergne Fastest in ELMS Free Practice

Photo: MPS Agency

Jean-Eric Vergne set the pace on Friday after a pair of Free Practice sessions on the first day of running for the European Le Mans Series’ Four Hours of Silverstone.

He set a best lap time of 1:45.490 in Free Practice 2 to put the No. 26 G-Drive Racing Oreca 07 Gibson on top, over seven-tenths quicker than the nearest competition, DragonSpeed’s Ben Hanley.

Hanley was followed by Felipe Nasr in third, with the Brazilian’s Cetilar Villorba Corse car the quickest Dallara P217 Gibson behind the pair of leading Orecas.

United Autosports had the best-placed Ligier JS P217 Gibson with Wayne Boyd lapping 1.474 seconds off the pace, meanwhile. 

The Anglo-American team led the way in LMP3 with its pair of Ligier JS P3 Nissans going 1-2 in FP1 and remaining unbeaten in the afternoon’s session.

A 1:55.689 from Matt Bell was the best lap in class, while Sean Rayhall was o.5 seconds behind in the sister car.

Ultimate was the fastest non-Ligier entry in LMP3, with its No. 17 Norma M30 Nissan driven by Matthieu Lahaye.

Proton Competition set the best time in a closely-matched GTE class with its No. 88 Porsche 911 RSR of Matteo Cairoli.

Cairoli’s time was set in FP2, after he also set the pace in GTE-Am during FP1 for the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

Matt Griffin was the second-quickest driver in class, driving the No. 55 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE.

Qualifying is set for 11:10 a.m. local time on Saturday, ahead of the race at 4:30 p.m.

RESULTS: Free Practice 1
RESULTS: Free Practice 2

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.