The free practice session does not count towards the starting grid but with the qualifying sessions, things start to get more serious and the lap times recorded will determine the starting order for this Saturday’s race. Today’s session lasts two hours and there will be two more rounds tomorrow. The final starting grid is determined according to the best times from all three sessions.
By midnight tonight, we’ll already have an idea of the rankings in each class. Yet scoring the fastest lap is not the drivers’ only priority. They are all required to complete five night-time laps during at least one of the two qualifying sessions that run from 22:00 to midnight, so as well as seeking performance, they’ll also be looking to tick that box.
While nothing is decided in the first round of qualifying, it often provides some great entertainment and may even see the fastest lap time of the week. For example, in 2013, 2015 and 2016 the pole position was decided on the Wednesday.
Photo: the first qualifying session has just got under way and competitors are already well into their first lap.