Lopez Leads Toyota 1-2 in FP3

Photo: Vision Sport Agency

Toyota Gazoo Racing swept Free Practice 3 on Saturday morning at the Nürburgring with Jose Maria Lopez setting the fastest lap in the final session ahead of qualifying.

The Argentinian set a lap time of 1:38.969 in the 60-minute session, although was three tenths slower than the fastest time of the weekend so far set by Porsche’s Brendon Hartley in FP2.

Kazuki Nakajima followed suit to put the pair of Toyota TS050 Hybrids 1-2 at the top of the timesheets, going 0.427 seconds slower than his teammate.

Timo Bernhard was the fastest Porsche driver, 1.666 seconds off the pace in his No. 2 Porsche 919 Hybrid, while Neel Jani put the sister car in fourth.

Vaillante Rebellion topped the LMP2 ranks with times improving multiple times throughout the session, although a lap of 1:46.017 from Bruno Senna remained the best until the checkered flag. 

The top seven cars in class went faster than Friday’s pacesetter. 

Of note, the No. 31 Rebellion Oreca 07 Gibson returned to action after missing FP2 due to an accident in the opening session.

Olivier Pla and Ford Chip Ganassi Racing outpaced Davide Rigon’s AF Corse entry in GTE-Pro, with the Frenchman setting the fastest time of the weekend so far, 1.5 seconds quicker than the previous pace.

The Ford GTs and Ferrari 488 GTEs locked out the top four positions in class.

Matteo Cairoli was fastest in GTE-Am with the Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche, while Miguel Molina was second in the Spirit of Race Ferrari.

Qualifying gets underway at 2:55 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: Free Practice 3

Jake Kilshaw

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