Audi dominates first WEC free practice session in Mexico City

Andre Lotterer headed the times in the #7 Audi R18 e-tron quattro with a 1m26.705s set early in the 90-minute session.

That put him just 0.194s ahead of Lucas di Grassi, who posted a 1m26.899s in the sister car near the start of the session.

Brendon Hartley improved on the best Porsche time towards the end of the 90 minutes, setting a 1m26.948s that left him just over two tenths shy of Lotterer's pace.

Romain Dumas was fourth fastest in the second of the Porsche 919 Hybrids on a 1m27.205s set early in the session.

The only Toyota taking part in free practice on Thursday, following the #6 car's accident in testing in the morning, was just over a second off the pace courtesy of a 1m27.901s from Kazuki Nakajima.

Richard Bradley headed the times in LMP2 aboard the solo Manor ORECA-Nissan 05 with a 1m36.755s.

The Briton had been quickest initially and then responded to a 1m36.880s from Ryan Dalziel in the #31 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier-Nissan JSP2 at the end of the session.

Third fastest went to the Jota-run G-Drive ORECA that has claimed pole for every WEC race so far this season.

Alex Brundle set a 1m37.142s, which put him just over a tenth clear of the points-leading Signatech Alpine ORECA-Nissan in the hands of Stephane Richelmi.

Aston Martin led the way in GTE Pro with a 1m40.685s from Nicki Thiim.

The Dane's best aboard the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE put him just under three tenths up on James Calado's 1m41.455s in the best of the factory AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTEs.

Adam Carroll was fastest in GTE Am for the Gulf Racing Porsche team.

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