Sheldon van der Linde Shatters Competition in FP2 at COTA: BMW Dominates Lone Star Le Mans!
In a stunning display of speed and precision, Sheldon van der Linde left his competitors in the dust during the second free practice session at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), setting the stage for an electrifying showdown in the sixth round of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship. The talented BMW driver clocked an impressive lap time of 1:51.946, nearly half a second faster than his nearest rival, Antonio Giovinazzi, who drove the #51 Ferrari.
The battle for supremacy in this high-octane event was fierce, with the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie piloted by Alex Riberas narrowly trailing Giovinazzi by just 0.050 seconds, showcasing the tight competition among the elite teams. But it was van der Linde who stole the spotlight, demonstrating why he’s a force to be reckoned with on the track.
In the LMGT3 category, Sean Galael made waves by setting the best time in the #95 United Autosports McLaren, finishing with a remarkable 2:06.545. His performance put him less than a tenth of a second ahead of Rahel Frey, who was driving the #85 Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3R. Giamarco Levorato followed closely in the #88 Ford Mustang GT3, completing the top three in this fiercely competitive segment.
However, the session wasn’t without its drama. Just three minutes before the finish, the excitement came to an abrupt halt when the #81 TF Sport Corvette spun out on the track, triggering the red flag and marking the fifth interruption of the weekend. This unexpected turn of events added an element of suspense to an already thrilling day at COTA.
As the teams prepare for the upcoming races, all eyes will be on van der Linde and BMW as they look to capitalize on this momentum. The full session results are available on the FIAWEC website, where motorsport enthusiasts can dive deeper into the thrilling details of this gripping event.
With van der Linde’s stellar performance, the stage is set for an unforgettable showdown at Lone Star Le Mans!
