SEBRING, FL — While it is not quite clear at this writing just how extensive damage to any of the Audi cars due to a shunt during evening practice, one thing is clear: the R18s are very quick and will head into the qualifying session this afternoon as the favorite based on their one, two, three performance in last night’s practice session.

Although the three Audis performed well under the lights last night, there was an incident involving the No 1 and No 3 cars about halfway through the session. The drama happened when Nick Heidfeld’s Rebellion Racing Lola-Toyota stopped to avoid another spinning in front of him. Loic Duval in the No. 3 Audi ran into the back of the Toyota and then was summarily drilled by teammate Marcel Fassler in the No.1 Audi. Loic was unable to restart and had to be assisted back to the pits.

Although it appeared if the damage to Fassler’s R18 would have grounded him too, he was able to restart and return to the pits. Loic was not as fortunate. While it was reported earlier that the No 2 Audi with Alan McNish at the wheel also had a shunt, that report was not accurate. The No. 2 Audi skated to a clean session in the Thursday evening session.

In the morning’s test session only the number three R18 was out running with the Audi PR team noting that the morning session was “just a roll-out of the No. 3 R18 TDI”. It did lay down one lap that was the fastest of the test session.

The Audi team had the top three times during the evening session led by Tom Kristensen’s lap of 1:47.09. The other two R18s were less than second off the pace set by the No. 2 R18.  Other LMP1 cars were 1.5 to three seconds behind the Audis.

The Starworks Motorsports Honda with former Peugeot driver Stephane Sarrazin was the top LMP2 car more than three seconds behind the fastest Audi time.

In the GT class, it was Joey Hand turning top time in for  BMW Team RLL. It was the first time during the week that the BMW brand has been on the top rung of the speed ladder. Hand turned a quick lap of 2:00.258 besting the American led AF Corse’s Gimmi Bruni by 0.065 seconds Thursday night. Hand and Dirk Mueller were part of the BMW’s class win in last year’s race are looking for a repeat performance on Saturday. The GTE AM top time went to the Luxury Ferrari 458 with Dominik Farnbacher at the wheel.