Lotterer Puts Audi on Top in FP3 at Spa

Audi Sport Team Joest finished the third and final Free Practice session quickest, with Andre Lotterer taking the top spot in the final moments of the 60-minute session at Spa-Francorchamps.

After two rain-soaked sessions on Thursday, Friday’s final Free Practice session was held on a dry circuit, resulting in sub-two minute lap times right from the start.

Porsche continued to set the pace but just as it looked certain it would sweep the top three spots, Lotterer posted a fastest time of 1:57.368.

The No. 19 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Nico Hulkenberg was second quickest, just 0.011 seconds behind the Audi, set 15 minutes from the end.

The No. 18 Porsche 919 Hybrid was third fastest, ahead of the No. 17 Porsche.

Both the No. 1 Toyota TS040 Hybrid and the No. 8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro returned to action after their heavy accident in yesterday’s opening practice session.

G-Drive Racing led the LMP2 class, with the No. 28 Ligier JS P2 Nissan of Julien Canal, Roman Rusinov and Sam Bird outpacing the No. 47 KCMG Oreca 05 Nissan and the No. 38 Jota Sport Gibson 015S Nissan.

The top three in LMP2 was separated by just over half a second.

AF Corse (Ferrari) and Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing (Porsche) led the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am categories, respectively.

The No. 51 Ferrari 458 Italia of Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander was 0.018 seconds faster than the No. 99 Aston Martin Racing Vantage.

The No. 97 Aston Martin Vantage took third place, despite a rare error by Darren Turner.

Klaus Bachler caused a Full Course Yellow early in the session, putting the No. 88 Abu Dhabi-Proton Racing Porsche into the tyre wall at Pouhon.

The car was recovered and eventually took first place in GTE-Am.

Qualifying gets under way at 6 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: Free Practice 3