By Tarek Ramchani
The Circuit de La Sarthe hosted the second Le Mans 24 Hours test session this afternoon. As was the case this morning, Audi Sport Team Joest performed well again in the 4-hour session. The R18 e-tron quattros were not the fastest overall but were very close to the leaders.
Porsche took the first two places with their works 919 Hybrid cars. Timo Bernhard, Mark Webber and Brandon Hartley set the fastest time with #17 Porsche, 3:21.061. Their team-mates Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb were right behind driving the sister #19 car.
Best of the Audis was the #7 R18 e-tron quattro in third place overall, the car driven by André Lotterer, Benoit Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler. The three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winners and FIA WEC leaders set a best time of 3:22.556.
The #8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro was fourth fastest with drivers Loïc Duval, Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Jarvis. The three drivers set a best time of 3:23.002.
Marco Bonanomi, René Rast and Filipe Albuquerque who ended the opening session in a strong second were sixth fastest overall. The three drivers of the #9 Audi R18 e-tron quattro were right behind fifth placed #18 Porsche setting a best time of 3:23.375.
The two factory Toyotas were seventh and eighth with #1 TS040 Hybrid ahead of the sister #2 car. The session was red flagged with three minutes to go.
The Le Mans 24 Hours was the last big test for teams and drivers before the big race in two weeks time.
Photo credit: Audi Media
