Fassler Quickest in Opening Test Session

Photo: Audi

The Prologue kicked off with FIA WEC champions Audi Sport Team Joest atop the time charts, as the German manufacturer led the way in Friday morning’s first test session at Paul Ricard.

Marcel Fassler reeled off a best lap of 1:42.788 in his No. 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro, edging out the pair of Porsche 919 Hybrids for the quickest time of the opening four-hour session.

The No. 14 Porsche of Neel Jani was second quickest with a 1:42.919 lap time, just 0.124 seconds behind the diesel-powered Audi, while the sister 919 Hybrid of Mark Webber was third, a further four-tenths behind.

Kazuki Nakajima pedaled his No. 7 Toyota TS040 Hybrid to a best time of 1:43.910 to go fourth quickest overall and in LMP1-H, while Nick Heidfeld was the quickest of the two LMP1-L entries from Rebellion, the German setting a 1:45.551 lap time in the team’s 2013-spec Lola B12/60 Toyota.

In LMP2, it was the No. 22 Millennium Racing Oreca 03 Nissan of John Martin that was quickest with a 1:49.284 time, while Richard Lietz led the way in GTE-Pro aboard his No. 92 Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR.

Defending GTE-Am class champions 8Star Motorsports were quickest in GTE-Am, thanks to a quick lap by new signing Paolo Ruberti.

A second test session runs from 2-6 p.m. local, followed by a two-hour night session beginning at 7 p.m.

RESULTS: Test Session 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