LMS Barcelona - Race Morning Warm-up

Peter Hardman was first of the runners out of the pitlane in the morning warm-up session, all 43 cars out on track, albeit briefly as Romain Ianetta spun and slid backwards off into the gravel at Turn 2 as he started his second lap, the #99 Ferrari’s rear wheels were gravel bound so a red flag was inevitable, the clock still running but efficient marshalling meant only a 3 minute delay.

Gouselard outbraked himself on his out lap and had to take to the older (unused for this race) section of the Grand Prix circuit.

The Spyker meanwhile was in the hands of Benjamin Leuenberger following the withdrawal of Jarek Janis from the team yesterday – All at dsc wish Jarek well.

Frederic de Rocha in the #28 Ibanez Racing Services Courage was lucky to stay out of the wall after an off track moment at the exit of Turn One – The ex VdeV team are finding it tough to step up, as indeed it should be!

Whatever Brad Kettler et al have done overnight to the Kolles Audis must certainly have been progress in the right direction, both Bakkerud and Meyrick posting their best times of the meeting thus far, still not troubling the top of the timing sheets but a pretty sizeabe improvement nonetheless.

Luc Alphand seems to forget where he is right at the end of the session.  He goes all ‘Dakar’ and takes the Corvette off road – Note to self - C6.R plus gravel trap less effective than Pajero plus dunes.

Whilst ultimate times are pretty meaningless this morning the #16 Pescarolo went quickest (1:36.333) three tenths faster than Panis in the #11 Courage Oreca AIM with Prost and Senna made an evocative sight - third and fourth place in the order for Nicolas and Bruno and whilst Mansell wasn’t in machinery quick enough to join them at that end of the timing screens young Leo’s progress was encouraging too as dad Nigel watched from the pits.

LMP2 saw Miguel Amaral take the session honours in the Dunlop shod Quifel ASM Ginetta Zytek (1:39.538) ahead of a train of five Lolas, Matteo Bobbi and Jonny Kane joining the Ginetta Zytek in the 1:39s. 

GT1 saw the Lamborghini Murcielago, relegated from pole position after it failed the airbox stall test post qualifying, post a 1:47.870 with Sean Edward the best of the rest, but 3 seconds back in the ARC Bratislava Saleen.

Finally in GT2, the #92 JMW Ferrari of Gianmaria Bruni took Dunlop ahead of Hankook in the dying moments of the session, Christian Montonari second fastest with Patrick Pilet third for Felbermayer Proton, Porsche and Michelin. 

It’s looking nicely poised for the race start at 11:30 local time.