With a time of 3 min 28 sec 900/1000 when Frenchman Romain Dumas was behind the wheel, the hypercar also driven by his compatriot Olivier Pla and Brazilian Felipe Derani even managed a better time than in 2021 at this stage of the race.

Leading qualifying, the Toyota N.7 set the second fastest time at the very end of the session (3 min 29 sec 164/1000).

Yet it was Brendon Hartley who lit the first fuse by setting a time below 3 min 30 sec with the Toyota N.8.

Half an hour after the start of the session, the New Zealander, on the other hand, made a mistake by going straight into a bend, before leaving without incident.

In the lead after the first free practice in the afternoon, the crew had to settle for third place this time (3 min 29 sec 248/1000).

This session confirms the good impression given by Glickenhaus all day and gives an initial trend: the two vehicles seem more able to compete with the Toyotas than the Alpine, which finished behind the American N.709, in fifth place.

In the LMP2 category, it was still the WRT N.31 which went the fastest, led by Dane Michael Christensen, Frenchman Kevin Estre and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor, clinching sixth place in 3 min 33 sec 119/1000 .

In LMGTE Pro, the N.63 Corvette -- which was already in front at the end of the first free practice session -- again dominated its category, with the Spaniard Antonio Garça, the American Jordan Taylor and the Dutchman Nicky Catsburg in 3 min 53 sec 250/1000.

Finally Team Project N.46 of Italian Matteo Cairoli, Dane Mikkel Pedersen and Swiss Nicolas Leuwiler finished top of the LMGTE Am category in 3 min 55 sec 629/1000.

Classification of free practice 2:

1. Olivier Pla - Romain Dumas - Felipe Derani (FRA-FRA-BRE/Glickenhaus N.708/Hypercar) 3:28.900

2. Mike Conway - Kamui Kobayashi - Jose Maria Lopez (GBR-JPN-ARG/Toyota N.7/Hypercar/Hybrid) 3:29.164

3. Sebastien Buemi - Ryo Hirakawa - Brendon Hartley (SUI-JPN-NZL/Toyota N.8/Hypercar/hybrid) 3:29.248

4. Ryan Briscoe - Richard Westbrook - Franck Mailleux (AUS-GBR-FRA/Glickenhaus N.709/Hypercar) 3:31.440

5. André Negrao - Matthieu Vaxivière - Nicolas Lapierre (BRE-FRA-FRA/Alpine/Hypercar) 3:32.592

...

32. Antonio Garcia - Jordan Taylor - Nicky Catsburg (ESP-USA-NLD/Corvette N.63/LMGTE Pro) 3:53.492

...

39. Matteo Cairoli - Milkkel Pedersen - Nicolas Leutwiler (ITA-DNK-CHE/Team Project N.46/LMGTE Am) 3:55.629

© 2022 AFP