Phil Hanson tops Thursday combined practices
None of the 8 fastest drivers during day practices did improve sufficiently their own car fastest lap to remove Phil Hanson with #85 JDC-Miller Motorsports from top of the timesheets for the combined practices ahead of the 72nd running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Cadillac.
The British driver put in a 1:48.149 flyer during practice 2 which was still 0.130 seconds clear of Renger van der Zande (Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R #01) quickest lap in Thursday night’s practice 3.
Porsche 963 #85 leads combined practices results
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024.
The second practice (afternoon) saw Phil Hanson with #85JDC-Miller MotorSports breaking the Benchmark set by van der Zande during the morning session.
Note that his co drivers’ fastest lap are more than 2 seconds short from Hanson’s best lap. Tijmen van der Helm is 25th in drivers hierarchy (+2.030) and Richard Westbrook 27th (+2.174)!
Two Cadillac V-Series.R follow
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R #01.
Renger van der Zande with Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R #01 was the fastest of the night session improving his own best lap (practice 1) by 0,100 seconds but it was still 0,130 seconds short from Hanson’s Benchmark. Interesting to note that the three Cadillac Racing drivers are among the top 11 fastest lap of combined practices. The #01 Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R trio is the only team whose drivers are within the top 11. This coud become significant during the 12 hours race as the homogeneity of the team’s drivers setting consistent fast lap is essential … provided no incident occurs. Sebastien Bourdais was 3rd fastest of combined session (0.016 sec. short from van der Zande) and Scott Dixon 11th still within one second from combined practice’s benchmark.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R #31.
Pipo Derani did improve Jack Aitken’s best lap (fastest during Practice 1) during practice 2 to be the 4th fastest driver of combined practices with Jack Aitken 6th. The Whelen Cadillac Racing Cadillac V-Series.R #31, still remains third of combined practices.
WTR with Andretti #40 fourth
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. #40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06.
Louis Delétraz did improve his fastest lap during Practice 2 thereby putting his #40 DEX Imaging Acura ARX-06 team in P4 of combined practices.
Porsche Penske Motorsports #6 fifth
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. #6 Porsche 963
Nick Tandy was the fastest of the Porsche Works drivers with Porsche Penske Motorsports Porsche 963 #6 ending 5th of combined sessions. Both #6 Porsche 963 drivers Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet are respectively 7th and 8th in combined practices results by driver fastest lap.
WTR by Andretti #10 sixth
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06.
Brendon Hartley did set the 9th fastest lap by driver during Practice 1. His #10 Konica Minolta Acura ARX-06 is 6th of combined practices.
BMW M #25 is seventh
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Sebring 2024. #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8
Nick Yelloly was the fastest BMW M Works driver and closed the march of the top 10 fastest drivers. His #25 BMW M Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8 is 7th of combined practices.
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