Toyota Quickest in Rain-Shortened FP2 at Shanghai

Photo: John Dagys

Toyota led the way both in the dry and wet, as FIA WEC teams were greeted to challenging conditions Friday at Shanghai International Circuit.

Free Practice 2, scheduled for 90 minutes, was called 17 minutes short due to deteriorating conditions, which included heavy rain and fog around the 3.387-mile circuit.

While the session started in dry, but heavily overcast conditions, the rain came with roughly 20 minutes complete and increased in severity up until the session-ending red flag.

The No. 8 Toyota TS040 Hybrid of Anthony Davidson was quickest in the session and of the day, setting a 1:49.134 lap time prior to the rain.

Davidson edged out the sister No. 7 Toyota of Alex Wurz by 0.672 seconds, with Audi third and fourth quickest in the afternoon and on the weather-impacted day.

The pair of Porsche 919 Hybrids completed the top-five, with the No. 14 entry completing additional laps following its hybrid battery change, which cost it the majority of the running in the morning.

The No. 12 Rebellion Racing R-One Toyota of Mathias Beche was quickest in LMP1-L with a 1:54.786 set in the mostly dry morning session.

LMP2 was led by G-Drive Racing, with Roman Rusinov improving on his pace-setting time from the opening session.

The Russian’s 1:57.053 was 0.442 seconds quicker than the No. 30 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-03b of Ryan Dalziel in second, with Johannes van Overbeek completing the top-three in the afternoon.

Both of the ESM cars did not venture out in the wet, opting to keep its cars intact for the remainder of the weekend, which calls for only a slim chance of rain.

Aston Martin Racing’s Darren Turner was quickest in GTE-Pro in the afternoon, although unable to beat Gianmaria Bruni’s 2:06.153 lap time from the morning session.

GTE-Am was led by the No. 90 8Star Motorsports Ferrari F458 Italia GT of Paolo Ruberti, who reeled off a 2:04.528 lap time in the afternoon.

An additional 60-minute Free Practice is on tap for Saturday morning, followed by qualifying in the early afternoon.

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