Toyota yet to show their promising FP2 pace.
A 1:55.8 from Bernhard was a mere 2-tenths off team-mate Hartley, pretty much cementing their position at the top, while the number 8 Audi of Loic Duval slowed dramatically, making life a little difficult for the fast-closing TS050 of Kazuki Nakajima.
With three minutes remaining, there was just enough time for a flying lap and secure bragging rights for the second row. Bridesmaid honours went to the Nakajima/Sarrazin combination ahead of the number 8 Audi of Duval and Lucas di Grassi, while he number 13 Rebellion R-One AER took LMP1-L pole and sits on the fourth row alongside the number 12 sister entry.
Roberto Merhi threw down and early gauntlet for Manor in LMP2, recording a 2:07.351 ahead of the Signatech Alpine of Gustavo Menezes. Rene Rast would soon have something to say about that – slotting in a 2:06.748 in the Jota G-Drive which was backed up ably by Roman Rusinov on aggregate. Signatech Apline would finish second ahead of the Manor of Merhi, Richard Bradley and Matt Rao.
In LMGTE Pro Davide Rigon topped the early order for AF Corse, heading the Aston of Fernando Rees and Marino Franchitti in the Ford Performance GT. After the pit-stops, Richie Stanaway’s best was enough to put the number 97 Aston Martin up into second place on aggregate behind the Rigon/Sam Bird combination and the sister car of Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado.
LMGTE Am honours went to the Paul Dalla Lana/Pedro Lamy entered Aston Martin ahead of Francois Perrodo and Emmanuel Collard and the number 88 Abu Dhabi Proton entered Porsche of Al Qubasi and David Heinemeier Hansson.
Image: Mercurius