Changeable weather conditions foretaste for Sepang 12 Hours

Two two-hour free practice sessions gave the drivers and teams taking part in the 2015 Sepang 12 Hours ample time to understand that the weather conditions at the Sepang International Circuit are changeable to say the least. The 5,543 km was hit by showers just before the first free practice session started, which meant that the drivers not only had to deal with driving into the night, but also had to cope with a wet track.

It took some time for a dry line to form, and it was only when there was less than one hour to go that the 2'05 barrier was broken for the first time. With his lap of 2'04.385, Christopher Mies in the #150 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi looked set to claim the fastest time in FP1, but Carlo Van Dam took his #11 Singha Motorsport Team Ferrari by the scruff of its neck and set a scorching 2'03.563, a full two tenths of a second quicker than last year's fastest race lap.

Behind Mies, 2014 Sepang winner Gianmaria Bruni set the third-fastest time of the first free practice, at the wheel of the #1 Clearwater Racing Ferrari. The fastest time in the GTC class was set by the #69 Team Fydis Aylezo Lamborghini, while the #602 Jim Hunter Motorsport Subaru was on top in the Touring Car division.

With slightly cooler temperatures for the second free practice session, there was a big chance that the lap times of FP1 would be improved. Both Nobuteru Taniguchi in the #35 Team AAI - HubAuto Mercedes and Dominic Ang in the #27 Naza Nexus Ferrari dove into the 2'04, but then the Malaysian weather gods decided that they would shed some more rain over the Sepang Circuit, apparently ruining the possibility of any further improvements.

But forty minutes before the end of the session, the track had dried enough to see James Calado set an impressive 2'03.512 with the #1 Clearwater Racing Ferrari, just edging under Carlo Van Dam's time from the first free practice session. Other teams and drivers did not seem to bother to go and set a quick lap time, although Andrea Caldarelli improved the #55 FFF Racing Team by ACM McLaren's lap time and finished up in fourth. At the wheel of the #69 Team Fydis Aylezo Lamborghini Mitchell Gilbert was again impressive, beating the second car in GTC by almost five seconds.

Tomorrow's action at the Sepang International Circuit starts at 11.00 (UTC+8), with the third free practice session. The grid for the 2015 edition of the Asian endurance classic will be set in the afternoon.
 

2016 Calendar 

Australia : 6–7 February 2016 - Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour
USA : 5–6 March 2016 - Circuit of the Americas 6 Hours
Belgium : 28–31 July 2016 - Total 24 Hours of Spa
Malaysia : 10–11 December 2016 – Sepang 12 Hours

Starting entry list Sepang 12Hours

Link to Sepang 12 Hours Spotter Guide 

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Practical Information Sepang 12Hours

Weekend Timetable (UTC +8)
Friday, December 11th
Free Practice 3 : 11:00 - 12:30
Qualifying : 15:00 - 16:30
Top 15 Shootout : 17:00 – 17:15

Saturday, December 12th
Race Start Sepang 12Hours at 12:00

Sunday, December 13th
Race Finish Sepang 12Hours at 00:00

link to full timetable

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Website : www.sepang12hours.com
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Social Media :
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About 2015 Sepang 12 Hours

Date : December 10 - 13, 2015

The SRO Motorsport Group in partnership with the Sepang International Circuit are co-organizing and co-promoting the Sepang 12 Hours.

The following classes are eligible to race:
• GT3
• GTC
• GT4 & Sports Production
• Touring Production
• Invitation class

SRO is bringing its wealth of race organisation experience to the Sepang 12 hours, especially its know-how in GT endurance. The race includes the established Touring Production class which is an integral part of the Sepang 12 Hours.

-sepangcircuit.com