Nakajima puts #8 Toyota on top in opening Sebring practice

The #8 Toyota of Nakajima
The 8 Toyota of Nakajima

The No.8 Toyota Gazoo Racing car driven by Kazuki Nakajima set a time of 1m41.957s to lead the sister No.7 Toyota by 0.5s in opening practice for the 1000 Miles of Sebring World Endurance Championship race.

Nakajima set the best lap late in session after the team concentrated on long run stints in preparation for Friday’s 1000 Miles of Sebring.

Jose-Maria Lopez had set quickest time of session early on with a 1m42.506 in the No.7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID.

Cracks in the dilapidated Sebring Track
Cracks in the dilapidated Sebring Track

Rebellion Racing had mixed results as No.1 car placed third while sister car’s mileage was limited due to a technical issue. Eventually the No.3 Rebellion R13-Gibson recovered to set fourth fastest time in hands of driver Gustavo Menezes.

Aston Martin set the pace in LMGTE Pro as Maxime Martin claimed top spot with a best time of 1m58.044s in the No.97 Aston Martin Vantage AMR. Martin’s time eclipses the No.67 Ford GT's best lap by 0.3s.

LMP2 was led by Nyck de Vries who stopped the clock at 1m47.835s on team's first Sebring appearance.

LMGTE Am was headed by the No.98 Aston Martin Racing car of Pedro Lamy at 2m00.043s.

Practice 1 Results

Pos No. Team Drivers Time Behind Gap Laps
1st 8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Buemi S. Nakajima K. Alonso F. 1:41.957 0.000 0.000 41
2nd 7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Conway M. Kobayashi K. Lopez J. 1:42.506 +0.549 +0.549 47
3rd 1 Rebellion Racing Jani N. Beche M. Senna B. 1:43.552 +1.595 +1.046 21
4th 3 Rebellion Racing Berthon N. Laurent T. Menezes G. 1:43.664 +1.707 +0.112 34
5th 11 Smp Racing Aleshin M. Petrov V. Hartley B. 1:43.843 +1.886 +0.179 33
6th 17 Smp Racing Sarrazin S. Orudzhev E. Sirotkin S. 1:44.300 +2.343 +0.457 33
7th 10 Dragonspeed Hedman H. Hanley B. Van Der Zande R. 1:45.965 +4.008 +1.665 17
8th 29 Racing Team Nederland Van Eerd F. Van Der Garde G. De Vries N. 1:47.835 +5.878 +1.870 36
9th 36 Signatech Alpine Matmut Lapierre N. Negrão A. Thiriet P. 1:48.346 +6.389 +0.511 37
10th 28 Tds Racing Perrodo F. Vaxiviere M. Duval L. 1:48.786 +6.829 +0.440 32
11th 37 Jackie Chan Dc Racing Heinemeier-Hansson D. King J. Stevens W. 1:49.374 +7.417 +0.588 32
12th 38 Jackie Chan Dc Racing Tung H. Aubry G. Richelmi S. 1:49.506 +7.549 +0.132 35
13th 31 Dragonspeed Gonzalez R. Maldonado P. Davidson A. 1:49.625 +7.668 +0.119 37
14th 50 Larbre Competition Creed E. Ricci R. Jeannette G. 1:51.844 +9.887 +2.219 31
15th 97 Aston Martin Racing Lynn A. Martin M. 1:58.044 +16.087 +6.200 30
16th 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Team Uk Priaulx A. Tincknell H. Bomarito J. 1:58.356 +16.399 +0.312 28
17th 91 Porsche Gt Team Lietz R. Bruni G. 1:58.577 +16.620 +0.221 11
18th 92 Porsche Gt Team Christensen M. Estre K. 1:58.594 +16.637 +0.017 3
19th 95 Aston Martin Racing Sørensen M. Thiim N. Turner D. 1:58.631 +16.674 +0.037 31
20th 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Team Uk Mücke S. Pla O. Johnson B. 1:58.682 +16.725 +0.051 30
21st 82 Bmw Team Mtek Farfus A. Felix Da Costa A. Spengler B. 1:58.757 +16.800 +0.075 34
22nd 81 Bmw Team Mtek Tomczyk M. Catsburg N. Sims A. 1:58.823 +16.866 +0.066 27
23rd 51 Af Corse Pier Guidi A. Calado J. Serra D. 1:58.823 +16.866 +0.000 31
24th 63 Corvette Racing Magnussen J. Garcia A. Rockenfeller M. 1:58.937 +16.980 +0.114 23
25th 71 Af Corse Rigon D. Bird S. Molina M. 1:59.448 +17.491 +0.511 36
26th 98 Aston Martin Racing Dalla Lana P. Lamy P. Lauda M. 2:00.043 +18.086 +0.595 35
27th 88 Dempsey – Proton Racing Roda G. Roda G. Cairoli M. 2:00.052 +18.095 +0.009 32
28th 77 Dempsey – Proton Racing Ried C. Andlauer J. Campbell M. 2:00.079 +18.122 +0.027 36
29th 61 Clearwater Racing Perez-Companc L. Cressoni M. Griffin M. 2:00.082 +18.125 +0.003 32
30th 90 Tf Sport Yoluc S. Adam J. Eastwood C. 2:00.088 +18.131 +0.006 36
31st 54 Spirit Of Race Flohr T. Castellacci F. Fisichella G. 2:00.256 +18.299 +0.168 37
32nd 70 Mr Racing Ishikawa M. Beretta O. Cheever E. 2:00.314 +18.357 +0.058 33
33rd 86 Gulf Racing Wainwright M. Barker B. Preining T. 2:00.702 +18.745 +0.388 33
34th 56 Team Project 1 Bergmeister J. Lindsey P. Perfetti E. 0