Lopez Quickest in FP2; Porsche Tops Wet Friday

Photo: James Moy/Toyota

Toyota Gazoo Racing has topped time time charts in a rain-soaked Free Practice 2, with Porsche’s Andre Lotterer remaining the quickest of the day at Fuji Speedway.

Lopez reeled off a 1:39.202 in the No. 7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid early in the 90-minute session, which saw a lengthy 43-minute red flag period, initially for an accident and barrier repair before conditions worsened.

Only a handful of cars ventured back out for the remaining 25 minutes, which saw virtually no improvements.

The Argentinean’s time was more than three seconds slower than Lotterer’s 1:35.527 set in a slightly drier FP1. 

FP2 was red flagged for an accident by Vitaly Petrov, who backed his No. 25 CEFC Manor TRS Racing Oreca 07 Gibson into the barriers with less than 20 minutes completed in the session.

Petrov drove his LMP2 car back to the pits with significant rear-end damage.

The No. 38 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca topped LMP2 in FP2, some five seconds off the pace of teammate Alex Brundle’s class pace-setting time from the morning session.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and Clearwater Racing, meanwhile, were quickest in the production-based ranks, although Michael Christensen and Miguel Molina’s times from FP1 held as the best of the day.

Rain is again forecast for tomorrow, as well as Sunday, with FP3 scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time.

RESULTS: Free Practice 2

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