Signatech Alpine Start ELMS Finale Weekend on a High

Panciatici set the best lap of the 60-minute session with a time of 1m50.242 in the Signatech Alpine, just 0.002s ahead of championship rivals Thiriet by TDS Racing, with Switzerland's Mathias Beche posting a 1m50.244 lap. 

The no18 Murphy Prototypes Oreca-Nissan was third fastest, 0.7 seconds adrift of the top two cars and 0.032 ahead of Morand Racing. 

In LMPC Paul Loup Chatin and Gary Hirsch know they only have to finish the race to lift the class title on Saturday and they finished the first free practice session 1.1 seconds ahead of their rivals Anthony Pons and Soheil Ayari. 

IN LMGTE the JMW Motorsport Ferrari of Andrea Bertolini and Joel Camathias was quickest in class with Bertolini posting a 1m57.854 lap, just 0.162 ahead of points leaders Matt Griffin and Johnny Mowlem in the RAM Racing Ferrari 458.  The Anglo-Irish pair just need 3 points from the 3 Hours of Paul Ricard to secure the title but they are not letting this knowledge get in their way of setting a competitive time. 

In GTC is was the new team of Scuderia Villorba Corse that set the best time in class with a 1m58.702s lap in the Ferrari F458 Italia GT3, 0.7s ahead of the Kox Racing Lamborghini.

The second 60-minute Free Practice session is due to begin at 15:30 (local) this afternoon.