Both Toyotas ran lots of laps, next up is BMW continuing their desire for much lappery over from IMSA.
Porsche is lower down the laps completed list compared to normal.
Aston Martin still low on this list, but getting more laps in that other tests. Two cars on track will be helping too.
Let’s look at that Toyota testing program.
#7
Lots of short stints, swapping drivers in the first session.
The second session, a couple of runs that look like they were pushing by De Vries.
Finally there were some decent long run for each driver. Including some long stints from Kobayashi and De Vries. After last year and the tyre degradation issues they look like they are doing their homework.
#8 had a similar approach, but missed out on those longer stints.
Some others
While we are on this deep dive lets look at the fastest car over a single lap, the JOTA Cadillac #12. What a difference a change of teams seems to be making to this car’s performance.
Certainly it had a nice few laps and up to that point they mirrored Toyota’s approach. There are some differences. They did shorter stints leading and less running over all. The, presumably, race testing lap times are further away from the quick laps at the beginning of the second session. Is this because they don’t have a good race set-up yet, or because they nailed the quick laps?
The Ferrari’s were quick. Let’s look at #51‘s testing. They went for a longer stint in the first session – different to the cars we’ve looked at so far. Some nice running in the second session – they look strong.
Kubica held the fastest lap after the first session, so let’s see how they divided up day 1 testing. The usual lots of quick laps in the first session. Kubica got the longer stints in the second, slow reducing the lap time. It was getting cooler which helped, but does this hint at decent tyre management.
The fastest BMW #15 got a couple of long stints in. Towards the end did lots of short stints. What were they chasing?
Let’s round off by looking at Aston Martin. Not so much running overall, but they are trying some longer stints. They did this at the beginning of the second session, whereas most others had these nearer the end as it was getting darker and cooler.
#9 didn’t get a really long one in. Their testing was a little more bitty.
Lap Times so far:
Here is a summary of the average laps at this early stage:
Speed Trap Figures
IMSA doesn’t provide speed trap data, so this is our first look at speed trap data for Aston Martin. This is one to watch.
Peugeot and Alpine are in the middle of this list despite the negative high speed power adjustment1.
Toyota has one car near the top, despite being at the top of the > 250kph power rankings. The other one and Cadillacs near the bottom.
Some early “conclusions”
Conclusion 1: Some good useful running out there, especially from Toyota and BMW.
Conclusion 2: Ferrari look strong. Cadillac seem to have benefitted from JOTA running the cars – I hope they get some good long stints in to hone that race pace.
Conclusion 3: The masses will be baying for scarlet coloured blood, or at least a BoP change!