Conway Quickest in Delayed FP1 at Shanghai

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Mike Conway led the way in Friday’s opening Free Practice for the Six Hours of Shanghai, in a delayed start to the weekend for the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Conway reeled off a quick lap of 1:47.182 in the No. 7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid early in the 90-minute session, which started one-and-a-half hours late due to trackside communication issues.

Communication between race control and the trackside marshals was re-established via a set of backup radios.

The Englishman edged out the No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid by 0.232 seconds, with the championship-leading No. 2 Porsche ending the session third, with a 1:47.637 lap time and No. 8 Toyota fourth.

Vaillante Rebellion was quickest in LMP2, thanks to a 1:52.533 from Mathias Beche in the No. 13 Oreca 07 Gibson, while the No. 66 Ford GT topped GTE-Pro in the hands of Stefan Muecke.

The No. 54 Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE of Miguel Molina, meanwhile, paced GTE-Am.

Despite the lengthy delay, Free Practice 2 is still scheduled to start at 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