The two non-hybrid LMP1 teams shared quickest times in the two Friday practice sessions ahead of the WEC Shanghai 4hrs.
In the opening session, the sole #1 Rebellion of Senna, Menezes and Nato was nearly half a second faster than the second placed #5 Ginetta of King, Hanley and Orudzhev.
The highest placed Toyota was the #7 car of Conway, Kobayashi, and Lopez, some 1.324s slower than the Rebellion car.
In second practice, Toyota looked to have made inroads on their pace deficit, as with the new success handicap are believed to be running 28kg heavier than at the same race last year.
Team LNT’s #6 Ginetta topped the standings, with Robertson, Simpson and Smith leading the session ahead of the #8 Toyota of Buemi, Nakajima and Hartley by a mere 0.061s.
With Toyota on the back foot, could the Shanghai 4h be the first time we see the Japanese manufacturer knocked from the top spot on pace since it became the only hybrid manufacturer in 2018?
