This did not prevent the non-hybrid Audi R18 ultra No.2 of Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen beating the fastest lap time during the first free practice session this morning. With a time of 1:45.645, the Dane was over a tenth faster than Benoit Treluyer earlier today. To drive the nail home, his Scottish team mate posted the second fastest time of the session, nose to tail with the recent winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the No.1 Audi hybrid.

The achievement of this afternoon was by Danny Watts, who set a time of 1:46.994. The English driver hoisted the HPD-Honda No.21 of Strakka, a private team, into third place, ahead of the Toyota TS030 No.7. The latter was unable to participate in the entire session due to problems with its hybrid system.

Nicolas Minassian reminded his rivals of his pace by setting the fastest time of the LMP2 class in the Zytek-Nissan No.38 of the Jota team. The former Peugeot Sport driver set a time of 1:50.759, nearly a second faster than the lap of Dominik Kraihamer this morning with the Morgan-Nissan No.35 of OAK Racing that set the second fastest time of the session. Pierre Kaffer and the Oreca-Nissan No.48 of Pecom Racing follow by less than a tenth of a second.

Competitors will on the track tomorrow for a final free practice session of one hour from 11 :00 to noon.

Dave Davies