On a damp Silverstone track and under grey skies the first practice session of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship got underway. Porsche finished the first and second free seasons on the top of the timing sheets.
The 919 Porsche Hybrid was the quickest car on track with Timo Bernhard setting a 1m42.182, 0.814 ahead of Neel Jani in the no2 Porsche. Toyota Gazoo Racing was 3rd and 5th fastest with Anthony Davidson in the no5 TS050 HYBRID setting a time 1.583s behind the lead Porsche. Audi Sport was 4th and 6th fastest with Oliver Jarvis in the no8 R18 the fastest of the two cars. The fastest of the three privateer LMP1 entries was the Bykolles CLM-AER in 7th overall with James Rossiter setting a 1m48.860.
The no26 G Drive Racing ORECA 05-Nissan was the quickest of the 11 LMP2 entries with René Rast setting a lap of 1m50.428, 0.85s ahead of the no35 Baxi DC Racing Alpine A460-Nissan and 0.9 seconds ahead of the no43 RGR Sport by Morand Ligier-Nissan of Filipe Albuquerque.
Ferrari headed up the LMGTE time sheets in both Pro and Am classes with the no51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE of Gianmaria Bruni posting a 2m.01.067 lap, 1.151 seconds ahead of his teammates in the second F488. The no77 Dempsey-Proton Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Michael Christensen and reigning GTE champion Richard Lietz was 3rd quickest ahead of the two Ford GTs, with the faster of the two Aston Martins finishing four seconds off the pace of the leading Ferrari.
The no83 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia was the quickest of the six LMGTE Am entries, with Rui Aguas setting a 2m04.093 lap, 0.084s ahead of the no86 Gulf Racing Porsche 911 RSR of Ben Barker and 0.35s ahead of the no88 Abu-Dhabi Proton Racing Porsche. The no98 Aston Martin was 4th quickest, 0.5 seconds ahead of the Larbre Competition Corvette.