Following a Thursday which threw up one or two minor scrutineering problems, as can be expected with a brand new LMP2 design project, the team and the WF01 got down to business in earnest today during the 1000 kilometres of Catalunya two free practice sessions.
A successful late night work effort meant that both cars were prepared and ready for the first hour long practice session and at 11.45 they were rolled out into a bright, sunny and dry pit lane. As the green lights indicated the session open, both cars fired up and drivers Warren Hughes and Jonny Kane took the 45 and 46 cars out onto the track.
With the build of the cars running over, the team had not completed as much testing as it would have liked, but that was soon forgotten when the black, silver and yellow liveried WF01s hurtled past the start finish line, with the pace to match the generally accepted view that they are the prettiest LMP2 cars on the grid.
Seen as a valuable extension of the testing programme, both cars and all four drivers came through unscathed.The 46 car pair of Jonny and Joey set a very respectable 1:39.773 completing 21 laps.The 45 car of Warren and Mario managed less laps and were a little over a second behind their colleagues.Although not blistering, the consensus was positive and the first real test for the WF01 provided a solid platform from which to build.
Session two reversed the two pair’s earlier performance with Warren and Mario managing a best time of 1:39.726.
Planted firmly mid table on the LMP2 grid, the team is delighted with today’s results and will leave the circuit for a well earned night’s sleep in a much better frame of mind than many might have thought.
